Ask Dr Miriam

QDespite being 25 and a virgin, I’m being pestered by my GP surgery to go for a smear. I’ve told them I’ve never had sex but they won’t take no for an answer. Is it necessary?

AYes, it is. I know w there’s a lot of publicity about the human papillomavirus (HPV), that it’s an STI and that it’s responsible for most cases of cervical cancer (70%).

I know it appears logical that because you haven’t had sex and therefore haven’t been exposed to HPV, you don’t need a smear test. Cervical cancer is a condition con that’s also a related to having multiple sex partners in teen years and as you’re a virgin you y think you can’t can be affected. But these aren’t the only factors involved in developing cancer of the cervix. Many women who have never had HPV will go on to get cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease because if it’s caught early it can be cured.