Lesbian, bisexual & queer women and cervical cancer

“As a queer woman, I was told that my risk was low and that I didn’t need to have regular Pap tests. Given that I was eventually diagnosed with cervical cancer, this information was clearly false. If you have a cervix and you’ve had sex, you need regular Pap tests” Layla

Lesbian, bisexual, gay, queer and other women who have sex with women: If you're sexually active, 21 and older then you need to get screened for cervical cancer. Anyone with a cervix can be affected by cervical cancer. If you have ever had genital skin-to-skin contact with anyone of any gender, then you need to get a Pap test.

Get screened even if you:

• have no symptoms
• are no longer sexually active
• have only had one sexual partner in your lifetime
• have been through menopause
• have had the HPV vaccine
• have no family history of cervical cancer
• have only ever had sex with women
• have only ever had sex with trans men

Find out more about cervical cancer screening and answer questions that you might have.

Explore related articles

Trans women and cervical cancer screening

Trans men and cervical cancer screening

Questions about cervical cancer screening from LGBTQ community

Continue reading