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NBCCEDP Des Moines, IA

Where to get a free or low-cost pap smear or colposcopy in Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa cervical-cancer incidence is highest among Black and Hispanic women (Iowa Cancer Registry, 2022).

See 14 local clinics Call the Iowa program

Community health centers in Des Moines

These 14 federally funded clinics in Des Moines offer pap smear on a sliding-scale fee schedule and see patients regardless of insurance or immigration status.

See every community clinic in Des Moines

Need a colposcopy in Des Moines? Start with the same clinics

If your pap smear or HPV test comes back abnormal, the usual next step is a colposcopy: a 10 to 15 minute exam where a clinician looks at the cervix with a magnifying scope and, if needed, takes a small biopsy. It is how abnormal cells get diagnosed before they can become cancer.

The community health centers listed above provide pap smear screening, and many perform colposcopy on-site or refer you to a partner clinic that does. Call and ask two questions: whether they do colposcopy on-site, and whether you qualify for NBCCEDP coverage, which pays for diagnostic follow-up after an abnormal result, not just the screening itself.

Iowa's free cervical cancer screening program

If you are uninsured or under-insured, Iowa runs a NBCCEDP program that covers pap smear and follow-up at no cost for residents who qualify.

Care for Yourself

Call 1-800-369-2229 Program details and eligibility Full Iowa eligibility guide

Other free screening in Des Moines

Breast cancer Colorectal cancer Cardiovascular Diabetes prevention STD