Do You Need A Pap Smear After A Hysterectomy?

Posted on Thu, 15 May 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 15 May 2014 Answered on

Wed, 4 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Do you need a pap smear after a hysterectomy? I had my yearly exam this morning and he did not do a pap smear but he did one last year. thanks

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
can be done less frequently

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

According the XXXXXXX college of obstetricians and the XXXXXXX cancer society, for women age 30 to 65, pap smears can be done every 3 years unless there is a reason to suggest a greater frequency.

A hystectomy may be total (uterus and cervix removed ) or subtotal (cervix remains).
After a hystertomy, pap smears are needed if: (1) it was a subtotal and the cervix remains
(2) the hystectomy was done as a result of a malignant lesion
(3)there was an abnormality detected on a previous pap smear

If your pap smear last year was normal then your doctor would not necessarily perform another this year unless otherwise indicated.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar