New Pap Smear Guidelines

Most women are familiar with “the yearly pap” for detection of cervical cancer. Recent medical advances have made old screening guidelines obsolete. You may already be hearing and reading about having pap smears less often. Our providers agree with these changes as making sense for low risk women. However, we also feel that it’s important that you continue to check in with us yearly for an annual exam that may not include taking a pap smear. At your annual exam, we will discuss your cervical screening schedule, examine your breasts and do a complete pelvic exam. Your contraceptive needs, sexual concerns and the latest in preventative care will also be topics of discussion at your annual visit with us.  We are excited about the research based progress in reducing the risk of cervical disease. Additionally, the new guidelines will save health care dollars by reducing unnecessary procedures and worry.

Cervical Cancer Screening 

For women age 30 and above, our doctors are routinely screening for infection with high-risk strains of HPV (human papilloma virus) along with your routine pap. Recent research shows this screening strategy is both more accurate and cost effective in detecting cervical pre-cancer in its early, easily treatable stages. Both the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the American Society for Colposcopy & Cervical Disease recommend this screening strategy. Occasionally, your insurance company will not pay for the HPV portion of this screening. Our doctors will be happy to write a letter to your insurance company to appeal such a denial. If you would prefer not to be screened for HPV, please let us know.

New Mammogram Guideline Controversy

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