Women Should Continue Annual OB-GYN Visits Despite Changes in Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines
Atrium Health Navicent doctors urge women to continue to see an OB-GYN annually despite changes in cervical cancer screening guidelines.
“We’ve learned more about how cervical cancer develops over time, and although annual Pap tests may not be needed, all women should have a yearly visit with an OB-GYN for other screenings and to discuss their health,” said Dr. Joanna Ortega, an Atrium Health Navicent OB-GYN. “During your yearly visit, your provider will talk with you about your reproductive health goals, any peri-menopause or menopause symptoms and discuss any urinary concerns such as incontinence.”
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that about 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer would be diagnosed in the United States in 2024, leading to about 4,360 deaths. Hispanic women have the highest rates of developing cervical cancer, and Black women have the highest rates of dying from the disease.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends:
• Women aged 21 to 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years.
• Women aged 30 to 65 have three options for testing: They can have both a Pap test and an HPV test every five years; a Pap test alone every three years; or they can have HPV testing alone every 5 years.
More frequent testing may be needed for some women, including those who have a history of cervical cancer, are HIV positive or have a weakened immune system.
Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection. HPV is a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex. There are many types of HPV. Some HPV types can cause changes on a woman’s cervix that can lead to cervical cancer over time, while other types can cause genital or skin warts.
Atrium Health Navicent offers OB/GYN care in Macon and Forsyth. For more information, and to find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
For information about services available at the Atrium Health Navicent Peyton Anderson Cancer Center, ranging from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship, call 478-633-3000.
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Advocate Health is nationally recognized for its expertise in heart and vascular, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs more than 160,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to redefining care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.