New Study on Unnecessary Pap Tests

NPR reported on June 22, 2004, about a new study shows that doctors are not following a 10-year-old guideline that paps are unnecessary for women who had non-cancerous hyst. with cervix removal.

The NPR piece said that 10 million women have had pap tests and this is costing millions of $$ a year which should be spent elsewhere in the health care system (like for women who ahve never had a pap test).

Anyone else seen this? You can listen online to the piece on the NPR web site.

In addition to being so glad about no more periods, I'm simply giddy about no-more-stirrups and painful pap smears. (I had a very "friable" cervix - and I always bled after the exam.)

I'm curious especially for sisters who have posted that they are going to see their docs in a year after being cleared post-op. Why? What for?

i just posted about this on anotner thread (cant remember which one though)..the article/story is also in this issue of the JAMA..it also states in the article that dr's get good marks with the medical boards when they report that they have women returning yearly for their PAP tests including women who've had total and complete hysterectomies. just another proof that alot of dr's, if not most, are only looking out for number one..the medical profession has become a business..........i was a bit confused when my dr (gyn surgeon) told me that I was due for an exam and to make sure I scheduled it..i didnt ask or question him as I was already angry at him and was planning on leaving his practice...My new gyn has never mentioned about needing a PAP test--I guess she's smart enough to figure out that I know theres nothing left in my body for a PAP test to be warranted....I hope more women read up on this and realize that theyre being taken by their dr's. A GP/internist is perfectly capable of administering a yearly physical, minus the PAP test, to post-hysterectomy patients.

Hello,

That is interesting although I for one am glad that my GYN still wants me to come for my annual check up, recently when I saw him he found I have a rather suspicious mole down by my vagina which may have to be removed and I intend on having it checked at my annual in August to check for any change in color or size. I hate the idea of pap test but would rather stay on top of any thing that may be going on. I feel there are other reasons for our check up's I am however in favor of changing to once every 2-3 years if all is ok at my first annual. Not trying to dispute but just my own personal opinion I feel that my hormones need checked along with my breast exam since I have fibroscystic breast and even though it is rare there is also vaginal cancer to think about as well.

My GYN explicitly said that the reason many docs continue to recc. yearly paps for us is that otherwise many women would see no doctor at all.

For patients like me, that isn't an issue, as I have many chronic health problems and lots of cancer in the family. So I will be seen quite often enough....

Yes, my dr. came in the day after surgery and said. I bet you'll be happy to know we don't need to ever do a pap on you again. She said it was a new thing that just changed. She said I still need pelvic exams for a few yrs. than I think she said every 5 yrs. but call if problems.

Yeah!!!
Autum

Just wanted to chime in my two cents worth. i have also heard the flip side of the study you are referring to. Many women still continue to have yearly paps due to family history of cancers. It still is possible to have a cancer that does spread to another part of your body. although many drs feel it unnecessary to do the yearly pap, alot feel it is. My take, better be safe than sorry. My ins pays for it, and we work hard for our good ins. that we have. A study on brest cancer also stated that self breast exams were not necessary, but I know of a woman who found a lump through a breast exam that was cancer, and the mammogram didnt even show it. There are always two sides to every study, and in this case, it is well worth the pap for me. best wishes, baily ps I know the medical profession seems like it has turned into a business, but there are alot of kind caring wonderful doctors out there also.

I can understand going if there is a history of cancer. But a general PAP doesn't show vaginal cancer.

I'm so glad to never go back. I see my family doctor quite often.

I just went in for my annual a couple of weeks ago and will go again next year. Not only does the yearly exam includes a PAP but the doctor checks your breasts for lumps and feels your ovaries and makes sure there isnt any lumps or anything suspicious in your stomach. So if you dont think the PAP is neccessary the annual exam still is. That at least is how my doctor explained it but he still does believes a women should get a PAP every year just in case because cancer can still grow in the vaginal vault. All I have to say is better safe then sorry and after all I have been through in the last 5 years a yearly pap isnt a big deal at all... And with my luck I wouldnt get one and i would be the 1% to get the cancer..

Hello,

This is in response to the last reply vaginal cancer is found by taking a swab of the cells of the vagina just like the GYN used to swab my cervix if I had one they test these cells just like the cells found on the cervix, I am a daughter of a DES mother and even though vaginal cancer is indeed rare there is a higher rate for those daughters who's moms took the DES drug. The doctor can also look for any signs of infection or tumors in the vagina at this time, have a good day I am off to work...

I will continue going - though maybe not for the PAP. I do have an appointment next month for my yearly & I mainly want her to check out how things are healing/healed since the surgery, do the breast exam, etc. I recently went for breast pain last week so we took blood for hormone testing & Thyroid testing. I also was given an appt for a mammogram & breast sonogram.

I never see my Primarcy Care Physician unless something is wrong or I'm sick (last time I saw her was for a physical before my hyster, then it was 2 years earlier for another physical) and I'm comfortable with my Gyn.

Last year when I had my PAP (and found out I needed surgery) I had mentioned that I had gotten poison ivy again & she gave me a Rx for something. I've used her for so many things other than gyn stuff. Usually after the PAP exam she asks "So, anything else bothering you?" - that's when I hit her with whatever is going on with me (can't lose weight, libido problems, sinus problems, etc.)