Emily Haly, MD

USPSTF and ASCCP recommend cytology screening every 3 years from ages 21 to 29

From ages 30 to 64, screening can be cytologic every 3 years or cytology with high-risk HPV testing every 5 years (co-testing) 

Pap testing can be discontinued at age 65 for those who have had previous negative smears

The same Pap smear screening guidelines should be followed in women who had the HPV vaccine

Women under 21 may need testing for STIs but that does not include a Pap smear or HPV testing

Key points for today’s ‘well-woman’ exam: A guide for ob/gyns

CDC recommends HIV testing all patients aged 13 to 64 

Testing should be performed annually on high-risk patients

High-risk populations include injection-drug users and their sex partners, individuals who exchange sex for money or drugs, sex partners of HIV-infected individuals, and heterosexuals if they or their sex partners have had ≥ 1 sex partner since their most recent HIV test

Annual testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea is recommended in sexually active women < 25, and those older who have a new partner, multiple partners or a partner with a STD

Type-specific HSV testing should be considered in patients who present for STI evaluation 

Hepatitis C testing should be done on women born between 1945 and 1965 and patients who are at high risk, including individuals on immunosuppressive therapy or hemodialysis or who are HIV-positive

ACS recommends screening average-risk patients at age 45 

Options include colonoscopy every 10 years, computed tomographic colonography or sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, take-home high-sensitivity guaiac-based FOBT or FIT annually, and multitargeted stool-DNA testing every 3 years 

A positive result on a non-colonoscopy test should trigger colonoscopy 

USPSTF recommends mammography every 2 years for women > 50

USPSTF does not recommend biannual screening for women aged 40 to 49 but ACP does

For high-risk women, ACS recommends annual screening with mammography and MRI beginning at age 30 

ACP recommends mammography every 2 years in patients with life expectancy ≥ 10 years

After age 75, according to ACP, the decision to continue screening should be based on a patient’s health status

ACP recommends limiting use of MRI to patients at high risk or to determine disease extent after diagnosis

The AHA-approved cut-off for diagnosis of hypertension is now 130/80 mg/Hg

The risk calculator (cvriskcalculator.com) should be used instead of LDL levels to determine whether use of statins is warranted

To determine need for statins in patients with a 10-year risk of 5% to 20%, coronary artery calcium scoring is recommended by the Society for Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

Screening for diabetes should be done after pregnancy and in patients who have hypertension, hyperlipidemia or obesity (aged 40-70)

For patients aged ≥ 45, a baseline fasting blood sugar and repeat screening at least every 3 years thereafter are recommended

Annual screening is recommended for patients who are overweight or have risk factors for diabetes

BMD should be performed in women > 65 with no risk factors for osteoporosis

Follow-up testing should be done every 2 to 5 years, depending on risk

 should be used to evaluate 10-year risk of fracture 

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As more patients turn to ob/gyns for wellness exams, physicians need to stay up-to-date on current recommendations.

Emily Haly, MD

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The 'well-woman' screening guidelines