How often do you ladies see your gynecologist? Every six months or once a year? My doctor tells his patients to come in every six months, but like every other woman, I hate going. I'd rather just go once a year, but is every six months the norm? Or is once a year ok?
I just want to add that I am on the pill. I don't know if that changes anything.
I no longer go once a year. I think it's once per 3 now that I'm not having any more children or on BC. I guess menopause is good for something!
I only go to a gynecologist/obstetrician when I am pregnant. My family doctor performs a pap test yearly.
The guidelines are completely different now. According to the ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:)
You should start having cervical cancer screening at age 21 years. How often you should have cervical cancer screening depends on your age and health history:
• Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test every 3 years.
• Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and HPV test (co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It is acceptable to have a pap test alone every 3 years.
Yearly mammograms should start at age 40.
http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq178.pdf
http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq085.pdf?dmc...#
Obviously, there are different recommendations for women with certain health histories, or a family history of disease. That should be determined with your Dr. I have no history or family history, so I go by the guidelines. I used to go every 3 years, but I am now 30. I will start going every 5 years. I have never had the HPV test, since my husband and I are each others only sexual partners. I am not a fan of medical procedures that aren't necessary. Unless a health reason presents itself, I would never go every 6 months or once a year!
Your Dr. is making an awful lot of money off women who don't need to be going every 6 months...
Never, now that I'm done having kids. My PCP can do my pap and I only see her every 2-3 years for a physical. I'm on a 3-year pap schedule.
Six months seems beyond ridiculous to me. Unless you have some kind of issue that the gynecologist is following, I highly doubt that it's necessary or that your insurance would cover more than one routine annual exam.
once per year in my birthday month - so I don't forget.
sounds like your doctor is scamming a lot of women and bilking some insurance premiums!! Most insurance companies will not pay for 2 physicals or exams in a 12 month period unless there is a change.....
I would be looking for a new OB/GYN....
Good luck!
I go once a year unless I had an abnormal pap.
once a year, unless there is something wrong that needs to be watched more closely
I don't even think insurance covers every 6 months unless there is something abnormal that needs to be watched.
I never had to go more than once a year.
My insurance pays for once a yr. I also get a physical once a yr. I schedule them six months apart so if something comes up, one or the other can take care of it. I have a great GYN that I trust better than my regular doc.
I would say your doc is trying to make a buck. My H's doc is now refusing to refill prescriptions for a cholesterol med till H has a blood test ever 6 mths.
They wanted him to come in to see a doc ($$) and have blood drawn for a cholesterol test that takes 10 mins. in office. We could have had a regular test that takes a few days for results for free. We let them know, that was the preferred way we were going to do it. They had a new machine they needed to pay for...
The new thing is every two to three years as long as you have not had a recent abnormal pap. I did have to go twice a couple years ago at a six month interval because I had abnormal bleeding on my birth control, but once that was corrected that has no longer been the issue. I just had a regular check up this week and my doctor told me that my pap could wait another year.
I've only seen one when I've been pregnant, and for the post-natal checkups. Otherwise, every two years I SHOULD have a pap test with my GP. Doesn't usually happen though.
Once a year unless there is an issue that needs to be checked more often.
Ummm once every 3-5 years? I'm not saying this is ideal but it's how I've been tracking since I stopped having kids (16 years ago). :/
For a while I had to go every six months but one year is the norm.
Once per year.
Just went.
Did you know they don't even reco a PAP every year any more?
Once a year. Every 6 months is usually when there is an issue or concern they need to monitor.
I only have to go in every third year. I believe that is what is now recommended nationwide for any woman who has not had any issues (no abnormal paps, etc). They've been talking about making the pill over-the-counter anyway, so I can't imagine being on the pill would be a reason he'd have you come in so often.
My gyno says for me to come in every other year, but I come in once a year. They will sometimes say every six months if they want to monitor something though.
Interesting my gynecologist says once every 2 years is fine for a pap smear. The latest news that came out is every 3 years is fine too if you have always been normal/healthy.
I wonder what your doctor's reasoning for every 6 months is. Insurance will only pay for a physical once a year. Only if you have bad paps can you get more than one pap per year.
Once a year is the norm, I believe...
I'm with the once a year crowd...but maybe with the Pill it's every 6 months, especially if you're newly on it or over 35.
