Pap Smears After Gardasil: Are They Necessary?

What Women Need to Know About Having Pap Smears After Gardasil

After being immunized with the HPV vaccine (Gardasil), many women wonder if they still need to continue having regular Pap smears. After all, the vaccine does protect against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer. That should eliminate the need for a Pap, right? Wrong. While that is logical thinking, it couldn't be further from the truth.

Regular cervical cancer screening is a necessity for all women, whether they have had the HPV vaccine or not. The vaccine is not intended to replace the Pap smear, but to help prevent HPV.

Why Women Still Need Regular Pap Smears After the HPV Vaccine

The vaccine does not protect against all potentially cancer causing strains of HPV.
Although Gardasil protects against two types of HPV, which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, there are other strains of the virus that can cause cervical cancer. The vaccine will not protect you against these other strains.

Not all women get the same amount of protection from the vaccine.
Just like with other routine vaccines, some women may not be fully protected by the HPV vaccine, especially those with a weakened immune system.

Some women may not complete the vaccine series.
Gardasil requires a series of three shots given over a six-month period. Some women may not finish the series, or may get them at the wrong time, which may cause them not to be fully protected.

Some women may be infected prior to vaccination.
It is possible for a woman to be unaware that she is/has been infected with HPV. Women with prior HPV infection may not receive the same level of protection from the vaccine as women who have never been infected with HPV.

The Best Defense Against Cervical Cancer

The HPV vaccine combined with regular cervical cancer screeningis an effective defense against cervical cancer.

The Pap smear is a highly effective screening tool for women. It can detect abnormal cervical changes long before they become cancerous. When combined with the HPV vaccine, women have excellent protection against developing cervical cancer.

How often a woman has a Pap smear depends on several factors, such as age, current HPV status, and the result of previous cervical exams. Current cervical cancer screening guidelines recommend that women begin having regular Pap smears about three years after beginning to have sexual intercourse, or by age 21. See current cervical cancer screening guidelines.

Keep in mind that yearly pelvic exams are recommended, even if you do not get a Pap smear every year.

_{Sources: Killackey, MD, FACOG, FACS, Maureen. "New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines:." Healthy Women. June 2005. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Accessed 30 Nov 2007. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases." HPV and HPV Vaccine - Information for Healthcare Providers. Aug 2006. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 30 Nov 2007.}