Pap Smear New guidelines

It was a gleeful moment when, 2 years ago, enough research piled up for doctors to say- you’re over 30, your last 3 tests were fine, skip next year & stick with every 2 years as long as your tests are fine.

News Flash- every 2 years could become 3. proposed new guidelines say- get your first Pap at 21, if it’s fine, repeat every 3 years as long as they’re okay. At 65, discuss stopping with your doctor.

The recent studies found no evidence that testing every year or two is better than every 3. It decreases costs,   stomach knots & cold feet- not cancer detection.

The testing is being upgraded. 2 tests will be run on the cervix cells- the Pap + one for HPV ( Human papilloma Virus), a major culprit in cervical cancer.

Important- get vaccinated for HPV ! it radically decreases cervical cancer. It is thought that the HPV test may be even better than the pap.

There are exceptions- women who smoke, have AIDS, have had abnormal Paps or were exposed to DES in-utero need more tests. But others can grin.

Don’t get a Pap test if you’ve had total hysterectomy. The surgery removed your cervix. Paps look for abnormal cervix cells. No cervix, no point