Can I Get Checked for Vulvar Cancer Before I Have Symptoms?

Ask your doctor how often you should have a Pap test and pelvic exam. These tests can help spot certain vulvar, vaginal, and cervical cancers.

Screening tests check for signs of disease in people who don’t have any symptoms. Screening for vulvar cancer can catch changes early. That’s when doctors can treat them more successfully.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women have regular checkups to help spot certain gynecologic cancers. Doctors examine the vulva when you have these checkups, which also include a pelvic exam and Pap test. Here are some other general recommendations for how to prevent vulvar cancer.

• Get regular Pap tests and pelvic exams beginning about 3 years after first having vaginal intercourse, but no later than age 21. You may have these annually or every other year. It depends upon the type of Pap test your doctor uses.

• If you do not have risk factors for vulvar cancer such as HIV infection, DES exposure at birth, or a weakened immune system, you may be able to get screened every 2 to 3 years. This could begin after age 30 and after you’ve had 3 normal Pap tests in a row, or if you combine the Pap test with the HPV test.

If you are age 70 or older and are not at high risk, you may choose to stop having Pap tests. This is possible if you’ve had no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years.