Cervical Cancer Screening

[BlackAces]

So, what guidelines do you have to follow on the CK exam???

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/guidelines.pdf

Question is do you start screening at 21 regardless of sexual life history, or 3 years after start of it, whichever comes first - diff. guidelines

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[americanpie]

So, what guidelines do you have to follow on the CK exam???

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/guidelines.pdf

Question is do you start screening at 21 regardless of sexual life history, or 3 years after start of it, whichever comes first - diff. guidelines

2 examples: if Patient is sexually active at the age of 16 then do Pap at age of 19 so basically if patient is sexually active, screen will start 3 yrs after she started having intercourse regardless she's 21 or not or if Patient is never sexually active, then PAP smear will start at age of 21.

 

[BlackAces]

2 examples: if Patient is sexually active at the age of 16 then do Pap at age of 19 so basically if patient is sexually active, screen will start 3 yrs after she started having intercourse regardless she's 21 or not or if Patient is never sexually active, then PAP smear will start at age of 21.

Yeah, but just finished UW and had a Q where it said do it at 21 y/o regardless of when she started being sexually active. Go figure it out.

 

[JacobMcCandles]

You're unlikely to get a question if the guidelines have recently changed or if there is any controversy around it so cervical screening and breast cancer screening questions are unlikely to come up.

 

[scotchtapetest]

2 examples: if Patient is sexually active at the age of 16 then do Pap at age of 19 so basically if patient is sexually active, screen will start 3 yrs after she started having intercourse regardless she's 21 or not or if Patient is never sexually active, then PAP smear will start at age of 21.

This is NOT correct anymore according to the current guidelines. ONLY start screening females at age 21 disregarding any other factor. Now, unfortunately, this is not the reality in practice but it is the current guidelines.

You're unlikely to get a question if the guidelines have recently changed or if there is any controversy around it so cervical screening and breast cancer screening questions are unlikely to come up.

but if you do, ALWAYS go with current guidelines (it is safer that way)! Rationale: NBME/NBOME are aware of changes to guidelines and update questions accordingly.

Also, this particular guideline was changed at least 1.5 years ago, so you should definitely go with current guidelines.

 

[sineapse]

NEJM article explains it:

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1112532

 

[BlackAces]

Ok, great, so now you don't even do a Pap smear every year from 21-29 y/o.

 

[scotchtapetest]

Ok, great, so now you don't even do a Pap smear every year from 21-29 y/o.

No you don't (unless there is a h/o abnormal pap). HOWEVER, you still have to get an annual GYN exam/checkup as per guidelines!