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I Wish I'd Asked My Doctor...Hysterectomy, Cervical Cancer and Pap Smears
by Terri L. Pilcher, MSHS, PA-C (Terri's bio)
IMPORTANT!: Please read our legal notice regarding this health column by clicking here.
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"I had a hysterectomy a few years ago. Do I need to see my gynecologist for an exam?"
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you probably won't need a Pap smear anymore. Hysterectomies test for cervical cancer, but since most hysterectomies include removal of the cervix, there should be no cervical tissue left. Some clinicians want their patients to receive annual Pap smears even after cervix removal, just to be safe. Be sure to ask your health care provider what his or her preference is for you.
Statistics compiled by the CDC state that one in four women receive a hysterectomy by the age of 60. A total of approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed every year, making it the second most common major surgery of women of reproductive age. The surgery is performed for many conditions including fibroid tumors, abnormally heavy uterine bleeding, and endometriosis.
Ovaries are typically not removed as part of a hysterectomy, but almost half of women who receive a hysterectomy do have both ovaries extracted. There is a debated among medical professionals concerning the chances of developing ovarian cancer and other ovary related problems. Be sure that you know whether or not you have ovaries. If you still have them, then be sure your clinician knows to check them yearly for an increase in size that could be related to cancer or ovarian cysts.
A yearly exam is as important for you as for a woman who still has a cervix. During a GYN exam, the clinician also assesses for ovarian cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and other diseases. These are all important reasons for calling your clinician to make an appointment.
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology- information on hysterectomy
http://www.medem.com/search/article_display.cfm?path=n:&mstr=/ZZZL67R927C.html&soc=ACOG&srch_typ=NAV_SERCH
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – fact sheet on hysterectomies
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/drh/wh_hysterec.htm
National Women's Health Resource Center – overview and Q&A on hysterectomies.
http://www.healthywomen.org/content.cfm?L1=3
Have a question for Terri? Click here.
Copyright 2002, Terri L. Pilcher. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
THE CONTENT OF THE "I WISH I'D ASKED MY DOCTOR" COLUMN IS PRESENTED IN SUMMARY FORM, IS GENERAL IN NATURE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT IS NOT INTENDED IN ANY WAY TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR FACE-TO-FACE, IN-PERSON, PROFESSIONAL, MEDICAL, PSYCHIATRIC, OR PHARMACEUTICAL HEALTH CARE ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION, HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN THE "I WISH I'D ASKED MY DOCTOR…" COLUMN. Please read our full legal notice.
| About Terri L. Pilcher: Terri L. Pilcher, MSHS, PA-C is a physician assistant with a Masters of Science in Health Sciences. She has worked in the fields of family practice medicine and occupational health. Her articles have appeared in Physician Assistant and JAAPA. Currently, she stays home with her daughters and writes. Contact her at AskthePA@prodigy.net. |
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