Community Chat

[Lipstickdiva]

My doctor told me about this 3 years ago when I went for my annual exam. The only qualifier was that I had to have a clean pap history. She said nothing about no family history of cancer or being in a monogamous relationship.

However, just because you aren't getting a PAP, you are still supposed to go yearly for an internal exam and of course get your mammogram.

When I went in April for my exam, my doctor found something which resulted in me having to have an ultrasound, then a biopsy then an MRI. Even with my insurance, I owed over $1,000.00 for my co-pays and deductibles. The MRI/MMR was crazy expensive.

[Suziepeach]

On 9/18/2014 mominohio said:

On 9/18/2014 Peachysue said:

mominohio, I knew about the new guidelines a while back & thanks for this thread- my three years due is the end of October- got that bad boy scheduled.

Seems like I'm late to the party on this one. Don't know if our office was just being conservative and waited longer to implement the new guidelines, or what, but I had never heard it before yesterday.

Regardless, we ladies can think of a million other things we'd rather do that get the yearly stuff done, even though it isn't terrible, so I hope my starting this at least gives a reminder where needed to get on the phone and get those appointments made. I think we all need a push now and then for this stuff.

I can't remember when I was told about the 3-year thing- I think it was when they made me have a senior assessment, which I believe was two years ago- I was fit to be tied about a few things, of which I won't go into.. Whether Kaiser pays for it or not, I'm going to start having it done yearly again.. I can choose, not anyone else.

[Marienkaefer2]

My doc has told me this too. She follows these guidelines. It's not about money, as my insurance would cover it. She just doesn't think it's necessary, for the reasons stated.

[lovescats]

from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/detailedguide/cervical-cancer-risk-factors

Several risk factors increase your chance of developing cervical cancer. Women without any of these risk factors rarely develop cervical cancer. Although these risk factors increase the odds of developing cervical cancer, many women with these risks do not develop this disease. When a woman develops cervical cancer or pre-cancerous changes, it may not be possible to say with certainty that a particular risk factor was the cause.

The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses, some of which cause a type of growth called a papilloma, which are more commonly known as warts.

If I copied more of the article it would be taken down. HPV is why they want younger people to get the vaccine. People in long stable relationships have a lower risk. A person with more partners is going to have a higher risk.

[Mom2Dogs]

My gyno will only do the pap test every three years as long as there have been no 'bad' tests.....if you have your ovaries she will do a pelvic exam.......

[Cakers1]

Yes, the 3 year rule was also explained to me, as well as after the age of 65 if all tests had been clear there would be no more tests at all.

This was at my last test which was also 3 years from the last one.

[skuggles]

My mother has never had one. She refused them. She's well over the age now.

[NoelSeven]

On 9/18/2014 Lila Belle said:

On 9/18/2014 terrier3 said:

On 9/18/2014 mominohio said:

Terrier3, you are right, she did mention the part about having good pap history, and that part does make some sense, that it isn't a blanket guideline for all women.

I wish I could be as sure as you about the finances part. I think that more and more of our society (including the government and insurance companies in this case) are looking for the easy now (saving billions? by reducing testing) and turning a blind eye, or will worry about the long term costs down the road. I just don't have that much faith in "the system".

There are now a LOT of new protections for consumers re: health care, thanks to the ACA.

There are no restrictions on pre-existing conditions - you can receive a new insurance policy even if you have a disease now, you can't reach an annual treatment "cap" or a lifetime "cap" - insurance must continue paying for your treatments. You can't be dumped from a plan if you become sick & need costly treatments.

All of those things could happen in the past.

Of course insuring that people continue receiving treatment for expensive diseases costs a lot of money - so saving money by not performing tests on people with reduced risk (like the 3 year Pap testing for healthy women with no family history) will help offset that.

Just adding that many tests doctors ordered in the past were unnecessary and expensive for the patient.

And dangerous. There was a time when chest x-Rays were pretty routine.

[NoelSeven]

On 9/18/2014 Peachysue said:

On 9/18/2014 mominohio said:

On 9/18/2014 Peachysue said:

mominohio, I knew about the new guidelines a while back & thanks for this thread- my three years due is the end of October- got that bad boy scheduled.

Seems like I'm late to the party on this one. Don't know if our office was just being conservative and waited longer to implement the new guidelines, or what, but I had never heard it before yesterday.

Regardless, we ladies can think of a million other things we'd rather do that get the yearly stuff done, even though it isn't terrible, so I hope my starting this at least gives a reminder where needed to get on the phone and get those appointments made. I think we all need a push now and then for this stuff.

I can't remember when I was told about the 3-year thing- I think it was when they made me have a senior assessment, which I believe was two years ago- I was fit to be tied about a few things, of which I won't go into.. Whether Kaiser pays for it or not, I'm going to start having it done yearly again.. I can choose, not anyone else.

I'm pretty sure it's by choice.

[chumlee_]

These are old guidelines for patients who have had clear Paps. My doc implemented this at least 10 years ago.