Rethinking The Yearly Test

Hmmmm I think that the recomendation would be good for people that aren't sexually active or that have only 1 partner (between tests). Paps do more than just look for cancer they can also detect STDs. You know that people will only go in for physicals acoording to these recs. and things can easily slip by. Of course because of these new guidelines insurance will only be willing to pay by them and you will have to pay out of pocket if you want more services.

I think this is ridiculous. The insurance companies are going to see this & say "We're NOT going to pay for annual paps & we're NOT going to pay for paps before age 21." So we will be stuck paying for necessary medical tests. I had my 1st pelvic exam in the ER at age 12 when I had an ovarian cyst rupture-I WAS NOT sexually active! However, I had started my menstrual cycles & had horrible problems w/them, and continued to do so over the next several years. My gyn started complete pelvic workups, including paps, on me before I was sexually active at around age 15 to try to determine why I kept having problems with cysts rupturing & abnormal bleeding.

I think that if the American Cancer Society signs off on these recommendations, then we should pay attention to them.

I guess for me, the broad recommendations are just that -- broad. Individually I think it's important to evaluate your health risks and make decisions on where to go from there, but changing the guidelines completely? Makes me a little skeptical. After a cervical cancer scare for me, I will always get a yearly checkup, especially since I am in the baby bearing ages and my body is changing constantly. I think this recent development is just making things more confusing for women who are just trying to do their best for their health.

I think that healthy women that do not have multiple partners do not need to go every year for a pap smear. Ultimately your health care should be your own decision and if you feel more comfortable going every year then you should, but if you feel better going every year then you should be able to do that too. I am a healthy married woman in my late 20s who has never had anything wrong down there and I have no history of those types of problems in my family. I really only end up going to get another birth control prescription.

I would be ok with getting a Pap everyother year as long as I still got to see my Dr. at least once a year.

I think people will still want the test because of the fear of cancer.

y a i decided to leave mine untill next year,but i think it is a good idea to go t o the dr if anything seems a little off or wtong. makes me wnder if it was the fda who thought this up, or the drs?

This is crazy I am still getting my pap every year.

PAP TESTS ARE NERY IMPORTANT AS WOMEN WE NEED TO STAY HEALTHY AND GET CHECKED OUT

This is just my opinion, but I really think it is very important for women to get paps every year..not just a pap, but full lab work also..you never know when things can go wrong in your body. Once of year is just a little peace of mind that everything is ok. Probably starting when you become sexually active..which these days is way too young.

I think not having the Pap tests every year is ridiculous.. I didnt go like I should have in my younger years and if I had I might have avoided some problems.. I go every year now because of the high risk of cancer in my family.. This could potentially save my life.. Not going according to these guidelines is reckless and potentially harmful to women!

I do not care what they recommend they are incorrect. I had a best friend who was 19 years old when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. This was in 1985. If she had followed the new recommendations - waiting for three years after becoming sexually active (she started at age 18) she might have died. She had to have a major surgery to prevent the spread of the cancer.

hmmm i think they should get tested after they become sexually active , unfortunatly its at a younger age & with more partners .. they dont really have any idea what they are doing to their bodies or teh damaged it can cause ..so i think screening is important esp with all teh gross things u can get sleeping around ...and in this day & age there seems to be no mommies that take enough time to really raise their kids, so the results are obvious! ps. I concure whole heartedly with msfriendly !

I'm not sure it's such a great idea. Women's health has always taken the back seat to men's health. I hope this isn't another example of that.