BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Pro-Choice New Article-Recent changes to pap smear guidelines

You may think the changes sound like a good idea. For some that is true, for many it is not. What do you think?


The Recent Changes to Pap Smear Guidelines

I don't know of anyone whose parents were involved in their health care when they got their first pap smear anyway (except possibly for providing insurance), so I don't think changing the recommended age from 18 to 21 is going to matter in that way. I think that waiting multiple years between pap smears is fine as long as the women involved are aware of what risky behavior for HPV transmission is and that they should have annual pap's if they are involved in that type of behavior. I think the HPV vaccine will also make this a safer guideline. I hope that insurance companies won't use this guideline to cut coverage for annual exams for those who are at higher risk.

As far as protecting young women's (and men's) health, I think that laws like we have in Oregon, that make teens able to make their own heath care decisions from age 15 are likely to do more than any kind of guidelines. At that age, asking your parents to take you to the doctor for a lot of things (not just sexually related things) can be embarrassing, and being able to go without them means that they get the care they need.

Julie

It sounds crazy to me. Did they keep any statistics to back this up?

Recently the guildlines were also changed for mammograms, which I do approve of, for after all, radiation does cause cancer and squishing your boob to almost paper flat (at least thats what it feels like) then giving it multiple jolts of radiation on a yearly basis does not make much sense to me

But then they went to far with the recommendation of not even doing self breast exams... It makes me wonder if they have a death wish for us.

I have not seen one stastic to back these changes up and I wonder if it comes from some corporate bean counter for insurance companies.

Thx Arrow-

I do believe it was probably pressure from Ins companies. However the guidelines are just that- if your ins covers yearly, you can do yearly, & that is what I strongly recommend.

Many Dr.'s do not agree with the changes either.

I understand that every yr thousands if not millions have good results from their pap smear.

However if you are having sex- this is 2010- no one can truly say their partner is 100% faithful, and many STD's cause serious damage, or cancer if not treated early. I do not recommend every 2,3, 20 yrs. I say every yr period.

Others do not feel they are necessary every year- leaving it up to each individual. I support each individuals decision, but I think the changes will come back to haunt many.