A question about female geriatric patients.......?

Question

Do women in their 80's and 90's still need routine pap smears and pelvic exams????

Answer 1

ALL women who still have pelvic organs (not otherwise removed via a hysterectomy) should still get annual physicals. The woman's doctor will determine if she needs a pap smear.

Common standards these days state that if you're no longer sexually active and have had consecutive clean pap's previously, you can get one every 3-5 years.

The unfortunate truth is that too many post-menopausal women do not get regular gynecological care.

Answer 2

Normally they do, but you should check with the doctor. My mother had a hysterectomy and was on hormones. Her doctor chose to just have her get mammograms and to bypass the pap smears. After all she did not have a cervix or ovaries any longer.

Many, but not all, women who are older have had some sort of "female" surgery and it may not be necessary for them to get the routine exams. It should always be up to the doctor.

Answer 3

That's a good question. I worked in a nursing home for years and never thought about that. I wouldn't think so. By then they've gone through menopause and are no longer having their periods. So, I wouldn't see any point in putting them through that. The plumbing is now a dead end. What would be the point?

Answer 4

Yes, they do. A woman still needs regular checkups; no matter what her age even though she has gone through menopause. You can get cancer and get problems at any age. It's part of your physical well-being. They still need to get mammograms also.

My mom is 81 and she still goes.

Answer 5

yes i would thing so they need to be checked for reproductive disease's too, and cervical cancer is not limited to any age, and just because a women is in her 80's or 90's doesn't mean she's not sexually active

Answer 6

They most definitely do, the cervix can still develop cancer at any age.