The Annual Gynecologic Examination Updated for the 21st Century.
The concept of an annual gynecologic screening visit to identify disease at an early stage has long been an established component of women's health care. Women and their health care providers have historically accepted the schedule of an annual gynecologic examination with cervical cancer screening and a pelvic examination. Recently, researchers questioned the value of the annual breast and pelvic examinations in asymptomatic women and re-established the intervals for Pap test screening with the addition of human papillomavirus co-testing to establish cervical cancer risk. The updated well woman examination is now an opportunity to engage women in health education, screening for chronic disease risks, and health care concerns such as depression and violence.
University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH.
Joyce
J
Cappiello
University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.. Electronic address: amylevi@salud.unm.edu.
Amy
A
Levi
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D058869:Gynecological Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016387:Women's Health / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
Pap test; annual gynecologic exam; disease prevention; pelvic exam; women’s health screening