Pap test not needed every year

I have read in some sites that some professionals claim that pap test is actually not needed every year. They also said that in some cases the scraping that goes on with the cervix for the test can by itself cause cancer if it's done frequently.. What do you think about it??

My doctor is of the opinion that if a woman has a clear Pap smear three years running the she only needs a Pap every three to five years (I think she prefers every three). Unfortunately because I'm a candidate for a transplant, I have to have one every year, come Hell or high water.

I hadn't heard about the possibility of the scraping itself being a contributing factor for cancer. I'd like to see some peer-reviewed research that backs that up. There is always someone that says one thing leads to another no matter how far-fetched. Next, they'll be telling us that sex is bad because the penis is close enough to the cervix that... (you fill in the blank).

Yes, my doc said that every two or three years unless someone is at high risk or has had previous abnormal results. When I had my annual done this year, I did not get a breast exam. My doc stated that they've determined that annual breast exams aren't effective in finding suspicious lumps and that they are better detected under scans instead. I'm due to get a mammogram later this year. My pap, which had been coming back abnormal for six years straight was normal two years ago and normal this year, so yay for that. My doc even wrote a smiley face on my lab report. She also told me after my annual exam that I had a perfect vagina. I told her that wasn't the first time I'd heard that. She laughed. I keep her day interesting.

Here in England smear tests are every 3 - 5 years on the NHS. You get more frequent tests if you have any abnormalities or as a follow up procedure. Mammograms are done from the age of 50 onwards, and routinely every 3 years after that with a cut off age of 70, but you can ask after that to continue to be screened.

Interesting Elizabeth. I was at my endocrine surgeon's office a few months back for surgical consults and follow-ups afterward. I was stunned at the number of "older" women I saw there (I'm in my 50s) I would guess that many of these women were in their 70s and even early 80s and had just undergone or were preparing for mastectomies. Says something about detection and how much longer we are living. Not too long ago, women that age wouldn't have been operated on because the benefit vs. length of life analysis wouldn't have been favorable.

Something to ponder.

Here is a link about new guidelines in pap smear

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WomensHealth/routine-pelvic-exams-thing-past/story?id=12921772&page=2

Do you have a reference for the claim that the Pap smear itself can cause dysplasia?

I tried the link, it says it's not available. ABC News isn't exactly a peer-reviewed reference for medical information.

Here's your reference from ACOG on pap smears. http://www.acog.org/acog_districts/dist_notice.cfm?recno=13&bulletin=3161

For those who don't know what ACOG is, it's the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Thanks Suzie, very helpful. And that article reminded me that I'll be getting screened every year post-transplant because I'll be on immunosuppresive medications. And they say life will be better.

Thanks Susie, for more general information ACOG also has a pamphlet on HPV and the Pap test at: http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp073.cfm?printerFriendly=yes

In Germany you have every year a pap smear.

And you muss go two times the year to the gyn. 😢

^^^^ Who made those rules?

You MUST go twice a year???

Really!? That sounds a bit excessive to me.

I skipped the last couple years because of always being normal. my husband bugged me to go just to be safe. It came back abnormal. I could not believe it after 30 yrs of them. So I just got back last week from day surgery. I feel a little better now but it did really upset me. A little scary the whole thing but if I would have waited longer it could of been worse.

I cant find the reference about frequent pap test leading to cancer... but i have read what ba3003 says..!! How did u learn about that ba3003?? Have you been told about that by your gyno?

Two of our daughters have had abnormal Pap smears in the past. They require semi-annual retests. The other two and dear wife have not had these abnormal results, so they are fine at every two years now per their OB/Gyns..

Speed

I myself go every 6 months. I had an aunt that passed away from cervical cancer that was not caught in time. I am considered high risk so my insurance covers it