If you’re sexually active, you’ve probably heard about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). That’s why you faithfully follow your physician’s recommendations for regular checkups, Pap smears, and STD testing. But a change in Pap testing frequency has decreased the amount of diagnoses of the most common bacterial STD—chlamydia. And physicians are worried.
Reduction in Pap Smear Frequency
In the recent past, women were advised to have an annual Pap test, pelvic exam and breast exam. But now, annual Pap smears are no longer recommended. This is because we now better understand the way cervical cancer develops over time. Regardless of whether or not you are due for a Pap test, Women’s Health Arizona highly recommends annual well woman exams.
The problem with the reduction in Pap smear frequency is that STD testing it typically done during or after your Pap smear. A Pap smear only tests for signs of HPV, and not for other STDs. STD testing is not automatically included as part of your well woman exam so be sure to request it if you have had unprotected sex with a new partner, if you or your partner have not been tested for STDs recently, or if you notice any unusual symptoms.
Pap Testing Recommendations
Women’s Health Arizona is aligned with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and ACOG in recommending Pap testing every three years for women ages 21 to 65. Women age 30 and older can get Pap testing every five years if the procedure is combined with testing for HPV.
How Screening Frequency Impacts Diagnosis Rate
Chlamydia infection was the most common notifiable sexually transmitted infection in the United States in 2020. During 2019–2020, rates of reported chlamydia decreased among males and females in the United States across most racial and ethnic groups. However, decreases in rates of reported chlamydia were unlikely due to a reduction in new infections. As chlamydial infections are usually asymptomatic, case rates are heavily influenced by how many preventive and screening services are performed. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic played a role as annual well woman visits decreased. In sum, it’s not that the actual incidence of chlamydia infection has decreased, we are just not identifying as many new cases. The risk is that we will have more chlamydia cases in the future.
The Dangers of Chlamydia
Why is chlamydia so dangerous? For one thing, it often doesn’t cause symptoms, so you might not even know that you have it. Plus, if left untreated, it can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes, causing lasting damage to your reproductive system.
Untreated chlamydia can lead to:
- Difficulties getting pregnant
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain
- Pregnancy-related complications
- An increased risk of developing HIV
Recommendations for Screening
Besides practicing safe sex, one of the best ways to protect yourself from chlamydia is to increase your screening frequency. All sexually active women younger than 25 years old should be tested for chlamydia annually. Additionally, women 25 years and older with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner who has an STD should also be tested annually.
Testing during or after your Pap smear with a swab of cervix discharge isn’t the only way to screen for chlamydia. You can also take a simple urine test.
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If you would like to meet with a knowledgeable doctor, consider contacting Women’s Health Arizona. As Arizona’s largest ObGyn group, we’re trained and solely dedicated to delivering the best ObGyn experience in convenient and comfortable settings around Phoenix.
