Is my pap smear due?
On November 20, 2009, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) released a statement that women should have their first pap smear (a screening test for cervical cancer) at age 21; in addition, repeat pap smears can be performed less frequently than previously recommended. ACOG recommended that most women younger than 30 should have a pap smear once every two years instead of annually; furthermore, women age 30 and older can be rescreened once every three years. According to Alan G. Waxman, M.D., who headed the document developed by ACOG’s Committee on Practice Bulletins-Gynecology, “The tradition of doing a pap test every year has not been supported by recent scientific evidence… a review of the evidence to date shows that screening at less frequent intervals prevents cervical cancer just as well, has decreased costs, and avoids unnecessary interventions that could be harmful.” According to ACOG, a significant increase in premature births has occurred among women who have been treated with removal of a portion of the cervix for dysplasia. (Dysplasia is a condition in which cells are abnormal and may develop into cancer.) Waxman said, “Adolescents have most of their childbearing years ahead of them, so it’s important to avoid unnecessary procedures that negatively affect the cervix… screening for cervical cancer in adolescents only serves to increase their anxiety and has led to overuse of follow-up procedures for something that usually resolves on its own.”
Because of widespread use of the pap smear in the U.S., cervical cancer rates have fallen more than 50% over the past 30 years. In 1975, the incidence of cervical cancer was 14.8 per 100,000 women; in 2006, it fell to 6.5 per 100,000 women. The American Cancer Society estimates that, in 2009, there will be 11,270 new cases of cervical cancer and 4,070 deaths from it in the US. Most deaths from cervical cancer in the U.S. occur in women who are screened infrequently or not at all. Cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer, which is caused by certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV); HPV is an extremely common sexually-transmitted disease. HPV also causes genital and anal warts, as well as oral and anal cancer.
The ACOG guidelines fall on the heels of new mammogram guidelines released by the U.S. Preventive Task Force on November 16, 2009. ACOG is the nation's leading group of physicians providing healthcare for women. Its membership currently stands at approximately 53,000 physicians. ACOG is a strong advocate for quality women’s healthcare for women and promotes patient education as well as continuing medical education for its physician membership.
See also:
New federal mammogram guidelines spark controversy
Good news for women with early uterine cancer
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