Cervical Cancer
It can be hard to stay up to date on your preventative care appointments like cervical cancer screenings. But, screenings can find cervical cancer early when chances of treatment and survival are high. With cervical cancer screenings, more than 90 percent of women who receive an early-stage cancer diagnosis survive.[1]
Get the right screening for you!
- Members, age 21-64, should get a pap smear at least every three years*
* If you have certain risk factors, your doctor may recommend more-frequent Pap smears. Women 30 to 65 should also be screened every 5 years for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Ask your doctor what’s right for you.
Learn more about WHO should get screened (PDF)!
Getting a cervical cancer screening is easy
Buckeye Medicaid members get FREE screenings. Plus, you can earn $75 in My Health Pays rewards dollars to spend on things you need on rent, utilities, and more!
Need a ride? Call 866-531-0615 at least 48 hours before your appointment to schedule your FREE ride to and from the doctor’s office.
Cervical cancer screenings can save your life! Watch this short video to learn more.
Have questions? We can help!
Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death for women. However, deaths have declined by 75 percent over the past 50 years with preventative screenings leading to early detection and treatment.[1] One in three cancer deaths can be prevented with earlier detection through a screening.[2]
More than half of new cervical cancer cases occur among women who have never or rarely been screened.[3] It’s never too late to get your screening.
HPV is almost always the cause of cervical cancer. Smoking and long-term use of oral contraceptives also increase your risk of cervical cancer. The risk of cervical cancer also increases with the number of childbirths. [5]
A screening involves collecting cells from your cervix — the narrow end of your uterus that's at the top of your vagina. [6] The exam involves the doctor gently inserting an instrument called a speculum into your vagina and using a soft brush and a flat scraping device called a spatula to take samples of your cervical cells.
Do not schedule your screening for a time when you are having your period. If you are going to have a screening in the next two days, you should not:[7]
- Douche (rinse the vagina with water or another fluid)
- Use a tampon
- Have sex
- Use a birth control foam, cream or jelly
- Use medicine or cream in your vagina
Screenings usually don’t hurt, but can be uncomfortable at times. The speculum that holds the walls of your vagina apart may cause a sensation of pressure in your pelvic area.