E86: The Spiritual Domain of Pap Smears

Nearly one in four women in the U.S. does not receive recommended cervical cancer screening, and for some, faith and cultural beliefs play a significant role in that decision. In communities where modesty, chastity, and the sacredness of the body are emphasized—such as among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—reproductive health care can carry added spiritual weight.

Rosemary Card joins Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, in the spiritual domain of Pap smears to explore how LDS values influence women's experiences with gynecological care. From premarital exams to evolving conversations around reproductive health, they reflect on how faith traditions can both complicate and support access to care.