• About Pap tests or Pap smears
• Who should have Pap tests or Pap smears?
• The human papillomavirus (HPV)
• The cervical cancer vaccine
• Pap tests after vaccination
• How does the vaccine work?
• Who should have the vaccine?
• Where to get the vaccine and costs
• Vaccine safety
• Abnormal Pap test (or Pap smear) results and treatment
• Cervical cancer

Pap tests after vaccination

Even if you have had the cervical cancer vaccine, you should have regular Pap tests.

This is because the cervical cancer vaccine only protects against some HPV types.

There are several other HPV types that can cause cervical cancer that are not protected against by the vaccine, which you may be exposed to through sexual activity.

Additionally, you may have been exposed to HPV types before you have the vaccine - that is, through sexual activity. The cervical cancer vaccine can't protect you against HPV infections you have already been exposed to.

For the same reasons, you can still have an abnormal Pap test result after you have had the cervical cancer vaccine.

 

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