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Is A Pap Smear Test Advisable For A 67 Year Old Woman?
Question: I am a 67-year-old female who obviously has been through menopause. I was always small in the pelvic area and the doctor always used a baby speculum on me. The last two times I tried to get a Pap smear was about three years ago. Both times we used a lidocaine gel and side my vagina. The first time it worked and we were able to do the Pap smear. The last time, it did not work and she kept trying to insert these speculum until I was bleeding and we just stopped. What are my options
Brief Answer:
different options available
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
According to the ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists), women over the age of 65 are no longer required to have pap smears unless there have been problems with previous three
According to these guidelines if the last 3 pap smear results have been normal or there have been 2 negative Co results (pap smear and HPV virus testing) within the last 10 years, further testing is not needed.
If this is not the case and the pap smear needs to be done then the options are as follows:(1) in some women the use of topical estrogen to the vaginal area for a few weeks may soften the vaginal wall and allow a papsmear to be done
(2)there are also cervical dilators can be gently used over a period of weeks to help stretch the cervical opening
Some women require the use of anesthesia to allow their doctor to assess the cervix.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
different options available
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
According to the ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists), women over the age of 65 are no longer required to have pap smears unless there have been problems with previous three
According to these guidelines if the last 3 pap smear results have been normal or there have been 2 negative Co results (pap smear and HPV virus testing) within the last 10 years, further testing is not needed.
If this is not the case and the pap smear needs to be done then the options are as follows:(1) in some women the use of topical estrogen to the vaginal area for a few weeks may soften the vaginal wall and allow a papsmear to be done
(2)there are also cervical dilators can be gently used over a period of weeks to help stretch the cervical opening
Some women require the use of anesthesia to allow their doctor to assess the cervix.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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