The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued their newly revised, evidence-based cervical cancer screening guidelines on Friday. They’re published in the December issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The new guidelines advise that most women under 30 years old should have a cervical screening (Pap test) once every two years rather than annually. Women age 30 and older may be re-screened once every three years provided that they’ve had three consecutive negative cervical cytology test results. According to ACOG, women vaccinated against HPV still need to follow the same screening guidelines as unvaccinated women.

Exceptions
Women with certain risk factors will still need to be screened more often. The risk factors include: HIV, immunosuppression, exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, or previous treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2, CIN 3, or cervical cancer.

The ACOG now recommends that women may wait until they’re 21 to have their first Pap test. Invasive cervical cancer is very rare in women under age 21, and the ACOG noted that HPV-related precancerous lesions (dysplasia) in adolescents usually resolve on their own without treatment. Researchers have also seen an increase in premature births among women who had excisional procedures for dysplasia.

“Adolescents have most of their childbearing years ahead of them, so it’s important to avoid unnecessary procedures that negatively affect the cervix,” said Alan G. Waxman, MD, who headed the document by ACOG’s Committee on Practice Bulletins-Gynecology.

Cervical Cancer Rates
Due to the widely used Pap test, cervical cancer rates have plunged more than 50% in the last 30 years. In 2006, only 6.5 per 100,000 women had cervical cancer, compared to 14.8 per 100,000 in 1975. Currently, most new cervical cancer cases in the US occur in women who either haven’t been screened at all or those who get screened very rarely.

How do you feel about the new cervical cancer screening guidelines?

(Image via MorgueFile)

Post from: Blisstree

New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

The study has interesting marketing implications as an HPV vaccine for men will likely be approved in the near future. Another important thing to note is that the study participants included only 18 to 20 year-old male college students.

“Thinking about the benefit to their own health — protection again rare genital cancers and genital warts — is all men really need to know; telling them all that extra stuff really isn’t going to push them one way or another,” said Mary Gerend, assistant professor of medical humanities and social sciences at the FSU. The study was published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

My thoughts: While it would be nice for young men to get vaccinated against HPV, I don’t think women should rely on it!

How do you feel about the study results?

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Men’s Attitudes on HPV Vaccine

I posted an article this morning about my disappointment that a vaccine to prevent HPV (human papilloma virus) which causes cervical cancer has morphed into an argument about whether girls should have sex.

The issue of whether states will require girls to be vaccinated against HPV upon entering public schools is one most states are currently debating or will debate shortly.

Many are saying it should be the parents’ right to choose whether their child should be vaccinated.

My position is that every girl, regardless of her parents, has a right to basic healthcare and that includes access to a vaccine which prevents cervical cancer.

I’d love to hear what you think about this very important issue. Please let me know in comments on So Sioux Me and/or right here at Blogfabulous.

Post from: Blisstree

HPV Vaccine, Girls’ Right to Health