Smear for over 60

Lady's are you still invited to attend for a smear if you are over 60 ?and is it the same in the US as UK ?

Thanks Microscope

In my province of Canada, it's up to age 70 and it can stop at that age if the last 3 have been clear.

My wife just had hers at 60, and the doc said it would be her last.

From our friends at WebMD:

"Women over age 65 can stop getting screened if they've had at least three consecutive negative Pap tests or at least two negative HPV tests within the previous 10 years, according to the guidelines."

Pretty standard US guidelines these days I would assume.

Doctor Geoff

Knowing how awful cervical cancer is, there isn't anyway I'm stopping pap smears after age 65. Women in my family live to about 85 - 86. You can still get cervical and vaginal cancer after age 65 as well as other types of cancers. NOT getting tested is playing Russian Roulette.

My mother came down with tonsil cancer at age 79. She was her oncology radiologists oldest patient.

@Doctor_Geoff

Respectfully

What WebMd link did you pull your quote? When I looked it up, part of your quote was off and your version is misleading.

https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/milestone-medical-tests-60-up#1

"For women, a pelvic exam and pap smear . You may think it's crazy, but many women over 60 still need to get regular pelvic exams and Pap smears. Older women can get cervical cancer or vaginal cancer. And the pelvic exam can detect a host of other conditions that may affect your health and quality of life (think incontinence!). Pap smears are recommended for women every three years up to age 65. If a woman is older than 65 years old and has had several negative pap smears in a row or has had a total hysterectomy for a non-cancerous condition like fibroids, your doctor may tell you that a Pap test is no longer needed. A combination of cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing every 5 years may be an option for you."

If a woman's uterus is gone, it does make sense that she does not need pap smears as they are for cervical cancer and when a woman has a hysterectomy, her cervix is removed. BUT if she does still have a cervix, then I think she should get a pap smear. Even if the risk is small, if you are the one diagnosed, you want it caught sooner rather than later.

5

Edit: Forgot to add, a women would still need gyno exams after 65 if she has had her uterus removed (hysterectomy). This was confirmed by my gyno. It's even more important for my mother as when she was in her late 60s, she developed Bowen's Disease of her labia minora and introitus.

Please before you or your loved one skip yearly checks, think about the consequences. If your insurance doesn't cover it, pay for it or go to a free clinic. Catching issues early can make a huge difference in the quality of life and often, the length of your life.

@sweetkissestoo I don't question a bit of what you said.. and agree that it is a very important test at ANY and all ages... but I was simply quoting from here... which does seem to contradict what you posted. They obviously are not totally consistent in their postings.

https://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/menopause-pap-smear#1-2

Do I Still Need a Pap Smear Now That I Am Menopausal?

Even if you are menopausal or postmenopausal, you should continue to have Pap tests. Women who have had a total hysterectomy for a noncancerous condition and have not had a previous history of precancerous Pap tests may be able to stop Pap screening depending on their medical history and risk of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV). Screening may also be discontinued at ages 65 or 70 if women have had at least three normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap tests in the previous 10 years.

Thank you for your interest in this very important matter... and my apologies if I (or WebMD) misled anyone.

Doctor Geoff

It should be noted that if a woman has a total hysterectomy for cancer, she still needs PAP smears. I haven't been able to find a cut off age for this situation in my googling.

My wife’s former doctor wanted her to have every test that she had the means to perform every year. The new one says near test every 3 years.

A total Hysterectomy is just that, removal of uterus and cervix complete and as such a smear can no longer be carried out. High vaginal swabs may however be deemed as appropriate.