Planned Parenthood of Indiana Evaluates New Pap Test Recommendations
HOPE Program Offers Birth Control Without Pap Tests
Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) is in the process of evaluating the new American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) recommendations regarding Pap tests. PPIN's guidelines currently remain unchanged at its health centers around the state.
ACOG now recommends that women delay their first Pap test until age 21, rather than the previous recommendation that young women get their first test within three years of becoming sexually active, but no later than 21. The group also says women between the ages of 21-29 should be screened every two years and women 30 and older who have had three consecutive, normal Pap tests and no history of seriously abnormal findings should be screened every three years.
"PPIN's parent organization, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), bases its standards for Pap screening on guidelines from recognized experts such as ACOG and the American Cancer Society," said PPIN Vice President of Patient Services Liz Carroll. "Planned Parenthood carefully reviews new medical guidelines and recommendations from organizations like ACOG before making any change to its protocols."
The best way to protect women from cervical cancer, in addition to routine cervical cancer screenings, is for them to be vaccinated before they are at risk of infection by the HPV virus, which can lead to cervical cancer. PPIN currently offers the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, at 19 health centers around the state.
For women who do not need Pap tests every year under the current guidelines, birth control is available at PPIN health centers without Pap tests. PPIN's HOPE Program allows women to buy birth control without an exam. Patients should call (800) 230-Plan to find the health center closest to them and to learn more details about the HOPE program and PPIN's preventive health care services.
