The new analysis was intended to estimate how often pelvic examinations and Pap tests occurred among young women in the US, as well as the proportion that were potentially unnecessary. The population-based study used data from 2011 to 2017.
Researchers classified the pelvic examination into two types: medically indicated or potentially unnecessary. Pelvic examinations were considered medically indicated if performed during pregnancy or in association with use of an intrauterine device, or in the context of treatment for a sexually transmitted disease.
The investigators estimated that of approximately 2.6 million young women who received a pelvic exam during the previous year, more than half (54.4 percent) were potentially unnecessary, representing an estimated 1.4 million young women.
Additionally, the researchers found that nearly a fifth of females younger than the recommended age had a Pap test within the past year. Because 72 percent were performed as “part of a routine exam,” they were potentially unnecessary, representing an estimated 1.6 million young women. Almost all of the pelvic examinations were performed at the same time as the Pap test.
Young women who had been screened for a sexually transmitted infection were 3.8 times more likely to receive a Pap test and 60 percent more likely to receive a pelvic examination, compared with those who had not been screened.
Similarly, young women who used a hormonal contraception other than IUD were 75 percent more likely to receive a Pap test and 31 percent more likely to receive a pelvic examination, compared with those who did not use those contraception methods.
“This study suggests that healthcare providers and young women need to communicate clearly and often about the best time for these tests,” said first author Jin Qin, ScD, an epidemiologist with the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We want to ensure that guidelines are followed, and lives are saved.”
Authors: Co-authors are Mona Saraiya, MD, and Gladys Martinez, PhD, who are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No disclosures were reported.
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