In recent years, some form of Pap smear or HPV testing became standard at annual exams for women over 30. (It was learned that women under 30 will often harbor the HPV virus temporarily before their immune system will clear it. Thus, testing for HPV before age 30 is not advised.)
It is now recognized that age and other factors influence the potential for cervical cancer to develop and that overuse of the Pap smear or HPV can do more harm than good by leading to unnecessary testing and medical procedures.
