January is the month for cervical cancer awareness, which is both the fourth-most common cause of cancer and the fourth-most common cause of death from cancer in women. One of the most important preventive steps: getting screened based on age-related guidelines.
The typical screening for cervical cancer can include the Papanicolaou test (Pap smear), and a separate test for the human papillomavirus (HPV). The Pap smear detects pre-cancers and cancers of the cervix (the opening of the uterus inside the pelvis), and HPV is a common sexually-transmitted disease that triggers the mutations that lead to cervical cancer.
Pap smears used to be recommended annually, but that interval has been changed to once every three to five years. 99 percent of cervical cancers were linked to specific types of the HPV virus, the so-called “high risk” types. New cervical cancer screening guidelines released separately this March by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommend against routine yearly testing, and have instead provided the following guidelines:
Women Under 21
It is not recommended that women under 21 get screened. Most positive HPV results in a young woman become normal without any treatment, so the harm from needless treatments would outweigh the benefits. However, regular STD tests for sexually active women should still be conducted at all ages.
Women Ages 21-30
It is recommended that all women between 21 and 30 get the Pap smear every 3 years, however it is not recommended that women under 30 get screened with the HPV test. Why is this? HPV is common in younger women, but again, it usually goes away on its own due to their immune system.
Women Ages 30-65
It is recommended that women ages 30 to 65 get a regular Pap smear every 3 years, or a Pap plus HPV test every 5 years. HPV testing combined with the Pap smear (co-testing) every 5 years from ages 30 to 65 offers a comparable balance of benefits and harms and is therefore a reasonable alternative for women in this age group who would prefer to extend the screening interval.
Women Over 65
For women over 65 who have had adequate prior screening and are not high-risk, the USPSTF and ACS recommend stopping Pap screens. (Those whom have had serious cervical pre-cancer “should continue to be tested for at least 20 years after that diagnosis, even if testing goes past age 65,” per the ACS).
Women after a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix and with no history of high-grade pre-cancer or cervical cancer should also not be screened.
While cervical cancer screening should not be an annual affair, it is still important to consult your health-care professional for general check-ups, which can help to ensure that that you remain on track for all of your tests and vaccines. The HPV vaccine is done in three shots, and it’s recommended that this series is done at a young age for both men and women in order to prevent both exposure to and spread of the HPV virus.
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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