Cedric A. Walls, MD, is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and has a special interest in providing compassionate, comprehensive women’s health care for all stages of life.
As doctors and scientists learn more about women’s health, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has updated its guidelines about when and how to screen patients for cervical cancer. While it’s great that the guidelines are updated to reflect the latest research, all those changes can be confusing for patients.
Here’s what you need to know about when to see your OBGYN, and what you can expect from each visit:
Cervical Cancer Screenings
An important part of the OBGYN visit is to screen for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We do that two ways:
We used to recommend getting Pap smears every year — a recommendation that helped the rate of cervical cancer in the U.S. drop significantly over the last few decades. But we now know that cervical cancer takes many years to develop, so less frequent screenings can still identify the disease early. As a result, we no longer recommend annual Pap smears for most women.
Instead, the current ACOG guidelines recommend cervical screenings based on age:
Just because you don’t need a Pap smear every year doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan to visit your OBGYN annually. After all, there’s a whole lot more to women’s health than cervical cancer screenings.
I recommend annual appointments with your OBGYN to cover topics such as:
It’s important to me to see my patients regularly to build a relationship with them and help them manage their health from head to toe.
If you’re due (or overdue) for an annual office visit, Inova Obstetrics & Gynecology can provide both routine check-ups and the most advanced specialty care.
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