On Well Woman Exams

This is one of the things that women both dread and anticipate. A well woman's exam. During a well woman's exam, normally both a gynecological exam and a breast exam occur. Most women believe that they need to have them done annually. This is not accurate, unless something is abnormal.

I try my best to follow the guidelines set out by the ACOG: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. These standards do change over time, but these are the current recommendations. They recommend that cervical cancer screenings start at age 21 and end at age 65, unless some abnormal results occur. For ages 21-29, it is recommended to get a pap every 3 years, and for ages 30-65 it is recommended to get a pap every 5 years. This is assuming that your results are normal. If there are ever any abnormalities, then that would change the time period.

Women do not need to get a pap smear yearly, unless she has a history of abnormal results, or a history of cervical cancer. Part of my current practice is attempting to prevent unnecessary additional pelvic exams.