OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Because of the ongoing pandemic, some people may be putting off some of those yearly checkups. Many exams can be done virtually, but when it comes to things like cervical cancer screenings and mammograms, patients will need to see a physician in person.
“Pediatrics, all the way through geriatrics, there are a lot of different screening testing that has been seen by patients and frankly by providers as something that putting off is reasonable," said Sonja Kinney, Director of General Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Director for the Olson Center for Women's Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Kinney says she is seeing fewer patients for things like routine pap smears, mammograms and clinical breast exams. She is in fact encouraging patients to wait if possible on these checkups.
While many may believe they need these exams done annually or bi-annually, this isn’t the case. For example, mammograms can be put off another 3-6 months for the average patient.
Sarah Traxler, Chief Medical Officer with Planned Parenthood North Central States, says pap smears can also be put on hold longer than most patients think.
“It’s not necessary all the time to get your pap smear exactly the day of the pap smear scheduling," Traxler said. "It isn’t every year like it used to be; it’s every 3-5 years depending on what your previous result was.”
Traxler says their clinics are encouraging patients to wait if they feel that’s what is best for them.
“Listen to your body; if things seem to be exactly the way that they were before: your periods are normal, your birth control is working for you, you’re not having any symptoms, you haven’t increased your sexual risk in any capacity, it is completely and totally appropriate to put things off until you personally feel it is safe to go in to see a provider.”
And Kinney says even if you’ve had an irregular pap smear in the past, it's not completely necessary to risk exposure to the coronavirus by coming into the office.
“It needs to be done, but again, because the interval is such a long period of time and that disease process takes such a long time to really affect a person, I have not felt that I’ve put patients in danger," Kinney said. "Is it hard to explain that to people? Yes.”
At the end of the day, both physicians say if you feel like there is an urgent need, call your doctor and talk to them about the issue.
