How Often Should You Have a Pelvic Exam vs. Pap Smear? Factors to Consider
You likely know that a yearly gynecological exam should be an essential part of your overall health plan. But you might be wondering … how often you should have a pelvic exam vs Pap smear? What’s the difference between a pelvic exam and a Pap smear, and what conditions do they screen for?
Since pelvic exams and Pap smears are often performed during the same appointment, it can be confusing. This article will address the differences between the two tests and highlight the conditions they detect.
Pelvic Exam vs Pap Smear: How Often Do You Need Them?
Pap Smear
How often you need a Pap smear depends on your age, your health history, and results from your last Pap test. We recommend that women from age 21 to 65 get a Pap test every three years if they have not had an abnormal Pap smear. If you’ve previously been treated for cervical cancer or precancerous changes, or you’ve had abnormal Pap smears in the past, you should get tested more often.
Most people don’t need Pap smears after age 65 if they’ve had three normal Pap tests in a row in the previous ten years. You should talk to your gynecologist about whether you can stop being tested at this point.
Pelvic Exam
How often you need a pelvic exam will depend on your health history and if you’re experiencing problems or symptoms. Recommendations may vary depending on your healthcare provider – some recommend yearly exams, while others recommend a pelvic exam every three years until you’re 65. Since this depends on your unique health information and medical history, it’s best to seek out expert gynecological care with our trusted providers to help you make this important decision.
What’s the Difference Between a Pap Smear and a Pelvic Exam?
Though Pap tests and pelvic exams are different things, your doctor can also perform a Pap smear during your pelvic exam appointment. These tests are primarily done by an obstetrician or gynecologist, though in some cases, a primary care physician or nurse practitioner may offer them.
Pap Smear
A Pap smear is a test that screens for cervical cancer by detecting abnormal cells in your cervix before they become cancerous. During a Pap smear, your healthcare provider will briefly brush a tool against your cervix to remove cells, then examine these cells under a microscope to identify potential abnormalities. An abnormal Pap test result may indicate infection, inflammation, cancer, or other problems.
Your doctor may also perform a test to check for human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that is a leading cause of cervical cancer, at the same time as your Pap smear.
Pelvic Exam
A pelvic exam is a standard physical exam to check your reproductive organs, including your external genitals and internal organs, for signs of disease. Some of the areas your doctor may check during this exam include the vagina, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, vulva and bladder. If you have symptoms such as pelvic pain, vaginal discharge or bleeding, infections, or other problems, a pelvic exam can help find the cause.
During a pelvic exam, you’ll undress below the waist and lie on an exam table. Your lower body will be covered with a gown, while your feet are on footrests or stirrups. The exam typically lasts just a few minutes.
What Conditions Can Be Detected with a Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear?
A Pap smear checks for precancerous cells in the cervix, cervical cancer, and HPV, which can increase the risk of cervical cancer.
A pelvic exam evaluates your overall reproductive health and helps check for conditions such as ovarian cancer, sexually transmitted infections, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). If you’re experiencing irregular bleeding, vaginal discharge, or pelvic pain, a pelvic exam can help determine the cause.
What Types of Scans Are Used During a Pelvic Exam?
A scan is not a typical part of a pelvic exam; it is an additional imaging test your doctor may order depending on your symptoms or condition.
If this is the case, a pelvic ultrasound is a type of scan that might be used. A pelvic ultrasound gathers images, called sonograms, of the organs in your pelvic area, which may include your bladder, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina. An abdominal ultrasound examines organs from outside the body, while a transvaginal ultrasound examines reproductive organs from inside the vagina.
Associates in Women’s Healthcare: A Compassionate Partner in Your Health Journey
We understand that a Pap smear or pelvic exam can be uncomfortable. While these tests may not be something you’re eager to add to your schedule, they help us learn essential information about your health that can help prevent more serious problems later.
Pap smears can detect cervical cancer early, when treatment is more effective and there’s a higher survival rate, while pelvic exams can help your doctor check for ovarian cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and several other conditions.
At Associates in Women’s Healthcare, we provide expert care for women by women. We encourage you to contact us today for an appointment and see why we are the provider of choice for gynecologists in Raleigh.
Sources:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “FAQs: Pelvic Exams”
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/pelvic-exams
Cleveland Clinic, “Pelvic Exams”
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17343-pelvic-exam
Cleveland Clinic, “Pap Smear”
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4267-pap-smear
Cleveland Clinic, “Pelvic Ultrasound”
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4997-pelvic-ultrasound
The Mayo Clinic, “HPV Infection,”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hpv-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20351596
