What is “sexually active” and do only women who have had intercourse require Pap tests?
“Sexually active” refers to both sexual intercourse and intimate genital contact. Any woman between the ages of 18-69 years who has had sexual intercourse or intimate genital contact needs to have a yearly Pap test. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are linked to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). A woman can be exposed to HPV by intimate genital contact as the virus can spread if it exists on areas not protected by a condom. It does not necessarily have to be only sexual intercourse that spreads the virus.
