According to new research, doctors may be giving unnecessary smear tests to women at low risk of cervical cancer. Guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force, the American
Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology now recommend that women over 30 who've had three normal Pap
tests should wait three years before having another.
But a survey of about 1,200 primary care doctors, conducted by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that fewer than one-third of doctors abide by those recommendations and instead are recommending more frequent screening.
According to lead study author Dr. Mona Saraiya, a CDC medical epidemiologist.
"The CDC is trying to promote responsible cervical cancer screening," "There are no guidelines that say doctors have to do annual Pap testing for low-risk women." She adds, "there are real downsides to over-screening. These include unnecessary cost for the test itself, anxiety, and unnecessary follow-up testing, such as colposcopy."
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