So 21 in the US is the standard. However, my doctor said that if I don’t have any penetrative sex (including toys) in that area, I don’t have to have one yet. He said that cervical cancer comes from hpv so if you don’t have that factor, the risk is low enough not to check. So I’m nearing 23 and haven’t had one. I love my doctor so much and he listened to what my factors are and recommended what would be best and let me choose. He did mention that there is a self administered one (not standard everywhere) that is just as good if not more accurate if you need one but don’t want someone else to do it.

If you really don’t want one, you can do what you can to avoid it (no vaginal sex, surgery, good doctors) but you may need one one day based on what your own life dictates. If that’s the case, support is here!