When should my adolescent daughter come in for her first pap smear?

Actually, your daughter doesn't need a pap smear until she is 21 years old according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). However, ACOG does recommend a reproductive health care visit between the ages of 13-15. At this visit, mom and daughter will fill out a questionnaire that is very specific to the issues of adolescent girls. We will take a thorough social, sexual, and reproductive history. We will also discuss birth control methods and sexually transmitted infection prevention. This visit typically does not include a pelvic exam or pap smear. Screening for the most common sexually transmitted infections can be done from a urine specimen. At some point during the visit, we will want to talk to your daughter without a parent or guardian in the room. Information obtained during this part of the visit will be confidential.