INSIDE

Health Matters

By Virginia Lester,
RN, MSN, ARNP

The Appointment Most Women
Would Love To Miss
The annual GYN exam! No matter how long the 15 minutes or so may seem, this appointment could actually save a woman’s life. In the U.S. cervical screening saves lives: the lives of 70 percent of women who might have died from cervical cancer without this test. The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to cause almost all types of cervical cancer. HPV is more common in women under the age of 30 who have multiple sexual partners, however cervical cancer is actually very rare in this age group. The HPV virus may be controlled by the body’s immune system and not develop into cancer.

Approximately, 80 percent of adults who are sexually active will contract HPV at some point in their lives, making it the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. Women need to be monitored for the disease even when they and their partners have maintained a long-term, monogamous relationship. The progression from cervical cell changes into cervical cancer can take between 10 to 15 years. Of the total number of women who have cervical cancer in the U.S., 60 percent have not had a PAP or other form of cervical screening for five or more years. Even when PAP tests are offered free, many women decline to be screened. The reason reported most often is that they were fearful of finding they might have cancer. Screening can only improve the possible survival from this disease. These tests can be done here in the clinic.

Consensus of all major professional associations is the following recommendations for PAP or cervical testing: 
• Begin three years after onset of sexual
activity or at age 21.
• Annually for women 30 and under.
• Every two to three years after three consecutive normal PAP results as long as the woman and her partner remain monogamous.
• Cervical screening may be discontinued for women over age 70 if they have had three consecutive normal PAP results and no abnormal results in the previous 10 years.
• Generally women who have had a
hysterectomy do not need PAP tests.

Notice: The health forum on diabetes will be held at the community center on May 7 from 10 a.m. until noon. This will be a very informative and useful presentation. Any person who has diabetes or a family member with diabetes should attend. See you there.