Abstract
Cervical cancer takes many years to develop after exposure to the HPV virus and is rare in women below the age of 21. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends that routine screening with Papanicolaou (Pap) smears start only at 21 years of age. A pelvic examination is thus often not required in adolescents who are sexually active as screening for sexually transmitted infections can be conducted by other methods. However, providers must know the indications for and be comfortable with conducting a pelvic examination and be familiar with the interpretation and management guidelines for Pap smears in young adults 21–29 years of age.
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Gupta, N. (2017). The Pelvic Examination and Pap Smear in Adolescents and Young Adults. In: Goldstein, M. (eds) The MassGeneral Hospital for Children Adolescent Medicine Handbook. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45778-9_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45778-9_6
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