Vaginal (Cervical) Pap Smear After Hysterectomy? - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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Vaginal (Cervical) Pap Smear After Hysterectomy?

Vaginal (Cervical) Pap Smear After Hysterectomy?

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Do I need a Pap smear post-hysterectomy?

In November of 2002, the American Cancer Society stated: Women who have had a total hysterectomy do not need Pap smears unless the hysterectomy was performed for cancer or pre-cancerous conditions. Women who have had a subtotal hysterectomy (leaving the cervix intact) need to follow the same guidelines as for other women and continue Pap smear screenings for cervical cancer until they are 70 years old.” The American Medical Association recently expressed the same view.

Among individual doctors, there does not seem to be a uniform opinion on this topic. It may be that physicians make an assessment on a patient-by-patient basis, or establish a policy for their practice based on their own interpretation of current medical data.

Why would anyone without a cervix ever need a test for cervical cancer? The answer is that changes in the surface of the cervix that produce abnormal Pap smears can also occur on the vaginal cuff. A woman can develop vaginal dysplasia particularly if she has previously had cervical dysplasia. Therefore, a woman whose hysterectomy was for cervical cancer should continue to have annual Pap smears.

In summary, if you have never had an abnormal Pap smear, it is reasonable to have a Pap smear every 5 years, and some authorities would say you never need to have one again. If you had a very minor Pap abnormality that did not require surgery, then having a Pap every 3 years after a hysterectomy seems reasonable.

If you ever had surgical treatment for an abnormal Pap, then it would probably be safest to continue to have a yearly Pap because the HPV virus would probably still be present in the vaginal cells. Also, if you become sexually involved with a new partner, you should have Paps done again until you have had 2-3 normal Paps in a row.

This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

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Find A Doctor Near You

Siobhan Kehoe, M.D. Gynecological Oncology Clinic - SW Med 2201 Inwood Road Suite 106 Dallas TX 75390 214-645-4673	Steven McCarus, M.D. 400 Celebration Place Suite310 Celebration FL 34747 4073034190	Bruce Pierce, M.D. 2 Princess Road Lawrenceville NJ 08648 609-896-0777
Megan Bird, M.D. 364 SE 8th Ave, Suite 205 Hillsboro OR 97202 503-681-4145	Jennifer Fuson, M.D. 1720 Nicholasville Road Suite 702 Lexington KY 40503 859-264-8811	Jennifer Hayes, M.D. Visionary Centre for Women 2695 Ulmerton Rd Clearwater FL 33762 727-540-0414
Elizabeth Stevenson-Gargiulo, M.D. 9101 North Central Expressway Suite 250 Dallas TX 75231 214-826-2979	David Zisow, M.D. 2005 Rock Spring Rd Ste. 3 Forest Hill - Baltimore MD 21050 410-879-1139	Gerald Harkins, M.D. Department of OB-Gyn P.O. Box 850, H-103 Hershey PA 17033 717-531-6447

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