topic Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS?? in Wellness

OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS?? UPDATE

tends2dogs — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 23:47:23 GMT

I am going in next week for my yearly check up. I get a thermogram, breast exam, and usually a pap and pelvic along with my bloodwork.

I am wondering if there is an age when you no longer need a pap test. I haven't had a hysterectomy. I have never had an abnormal pap test.

I know I will ask these questions at my appointment, but I am curious what advice you ladies have been given by your healthcare providers.

Anyone care to share?

UPDATE: I had my appointment today. This was the recommendation of the PA that I see: Pap test every two to three years if you've had several normal paps in a row. If a woman isn't sexually active, every 3 to 5 years. All woman should have a pelvic exam every year.

I go to a preventive clinic and have a thermogram and breast exam every year also.

According to what has been posted here, there are a whole lot of opinions on this subject. I guess you have to trust your healthcare provider, ask for more testing, or go someplace else.

I've enjoyed reading all the posts and I appreciate all of you for taking the time.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

cherry — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:06:28 GMT

I haven't had them for a while. I don't know how long it's been

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

goldensrbest — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:09:32 GMT

No stopped years ago.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

Shelbelle — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:10:43 GMT

Every other year, Medicare will pay for it every other year.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

KingstonsMom — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:10:50 GMT

@tends2dogs

My Dr. said that the recommendation now was no more Pap smears after age 65, provided that you'd never had an abnormal pap smear.

He said that studies showed there was a greater risk of infection after 65, which is when I had my last one.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

blackhole99 — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:43:06 GMT

My HMO recommends the pap test every 3 years for women over 65 who have not had suspicious pap smear results in the past. If you want it done yearly though, they will do it and insurance pays for it. I am due for one in March 2020.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:41:21 GMT

I am 64 this year and my NP told me that after 60ish and no issues with 2 consecutive pap tests, I could be done...I have never had a bad report so I felt comfortable stopping that test....I will be insterested to hear what your doctor tells you.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

ALRATIBA — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:49:25 GMT

Last one was probably 25 years ago.

Years ago, my GP told me to avoid doctors .... I took her advice.

I only go when I'm sick .... or my for my annual hearing exam, bi-annual eye exam, or semi-annual dentist.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

Shelbelle — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:52:27 GMT

My feeling is that if Medicare pays for it every 2 years, then that must be the standard, since that is what they go by, works for me. If they are paying for it, I am going to do it, My doc says if insurance is paying, she is going to do it.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

tends2dogs — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:53:20 GMT

Thank you, ladies. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I will report back after my appointment next week. I am hoping it is a big "NO MORE" I have done my time in the stirrups for a lifetime LOL.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

Shelbelle — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 23:03:57 GMT

@tends2dogs wrote:
Thank you, ladies. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I will report back after my appointment next week. I am hoping it is a big "NO MORE" I have done my time in the stirrups for a lifetime LOL.

You have me confused, are you asking if the annual GYN exam still includes a PAP over 65 or are you asking if over 65 you still need to go to a GYN. My GYN says definitely yes, regardless of if they still do a PAP, they also check for lots of other things. they check your ovaries, check for blood in stool, any growths in that area, breast exam, and more. I was still taking my Mom and she lived ot be 94. Medicare still pays for the exam every year, PAP every other year which is what I addressed before.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

Katcat1 — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 23:06:27 GMT

I had a total H so no more pap smears. I do get Mammograms for the breasts every 2 years.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

RedTop — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 23:11:12 GMT

My OB/GYN does not require them after 64 unless there are other issues.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

tends2dogs — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 23:43:55 GMT

@Shelbelle wrote:
@tends2dogs wrote:
Thank you, ladies. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I will report back after my appointment next week. I am hoping it is a big "NO MORE" I have done my time in the stirrups for a lifetime LOL.
You have me confused, are you asking if the annual GYN exam still includes a PAP over 65 or are you asking if over 65 you still need to go to a GYN. My GYN says definitely yes, regardless of if they still do a PAP, they also check for lots of other things. they check your ovaries, check for blood in stool, any growths in that area, breast exam, and more. I was still taking my Mom and she lived ot be 94. Medicare still pays for the exam every year, PAP every other year which is what I addressed before.

I was asking about Pap tests, @Shelbelle . Sigh, I guess I was jumping the gun when I said no more stirrups. I am sure that a pelvic exam will still be part of the check up. Sorry for the confusion.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

vsm — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 01:14:48 GMT

@tends2dogs You might be able to stop having a pap smear, but the gynecological exam covers more than that. I doubt your doctor advised you to skip he exam.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

aubnwa01 — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 04:27:12 GMT

I'm 68 & had a hysterectomy in '93, but I'm still on a very low dose estradiol patch, so my gyn has me come in for a pelvic exam & pap (even though I no longer have a cervix) every 2 years when he renews my Rx for the patch. He has no problem with me being on the patch all this time & I've never had an abnormal pap & I get an annual mammogram.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

PINKdogWOOD — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:00:14 GMT

@tends2dogs If you're 65+ and on medicare, medicare thinks it's okay for women to NOT do this test at 5yr intervals. This means they only pay for our paps every 5 years. My NP who I see indicates for her it's good to do every 3 years. I see her every year as I always have, this year again we chatted about this & medicare. While she still examined me, we did not do the actual pap test.

Last year I chose to have NP to do this test and I paid for it. I can manage the cost of $185.00 to pay for it myself and so I did.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

PINKdogWOOD — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:08:57 GMT

I'm talking about doing the actual smear, it's payment is every 5 years for medicare to pay for this.

My NP and I have had this same chat when I was 64. It's always good I think for the annual exam every year. They do so much more for us women in our annual exams these days. I really like this because we talk about a number of items that can affect us including annual shots we should be getting, thyroid issues or hopefully the lack thereof. We/I also conpare notes about what we do in this annula checkup vs what I do with my PCP and annual wellness checks. Both of my medical systems offer 'mychart' for posting many things and they can view what goes on with each Dr's visits.

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

NicksmomESQ — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:16:55 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
Last one was probably 25 years ago.

Years ago, my GP told me to avoid doctors .... I took her advice.

I only go when I'm sick .... or my for my annual hearing exam, bi-annual eye exam, or semi-annual dentist.

@ALRATIBA My sentiments exactly!! Unless I need an antibiotic I avoid doctors & tests as much as possible.I’m a lot healthier, & calmer as a result!!

Re: OVER 65 ~ DO YOU STILL GET PAP TESTS??

PilatesLover — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:49:30 GMT

My doctor switched me to every three years, but the last one this spring was horrible. It made me bleed later and I hurt for almost a week. She said that could be my last one ever, then the results came back with not enough to show anything conclusive one way or the other. She wrote a letter that she'll repeat next year, I'm going to ask her never to do it again.