Although you may not need a Pap test annually, it is very important to schedule a yearly gynecologic exam. A breast and pelvic exam will be performed, prescriptions refilled, screening tests ordered, and any concerns will be addressed.
HPV can cause genital warts, precancerous lesions of the cervix and vagina, and cervical cancer. The vaccine helps to protect against diseases caused by HPV Types 6, 11, 16, and 18. These four types of HPV cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. However, because there are more than 100 types of HPV, the vaccine will not protect against all of them. The vaccine will also not protect against types of HPV to which you have already been exposed. However, since exposure to all four types of HPV is rare, the vaccination should still provide benefit. HPV vaccination does not make you exempt from routine Pap testing and following your providers guidelines for Pap testing is imperative.
*If you are already pregnant, emergency contraception will not affect or abort an existing pregnancy.