At what age should women stop getting Pap smears according to guidelines?

According to current guidelines, women can stop getting Pap smears at the age of 65 if they have had a history of adequate screening. This means they should have had three consecutive negative Pap smears or two consecutive negative Pap and HPV co-tests within the last 10 years, with the most recent test performed within the last five years.

This recommendation is based on the decline in risk for cervical cancer as women age, especially when there has been consistent screening leading to negative results. Beyond age 65, the risk of developing cervical cancer is significantly low in women who have been regularly screened, making continued screening unnecessary for this age group.

Understanding the reasoning behind these guidelines is crucial for managing patient care effectively and ensuring that women are not subjected to unnecessary procedures. The choices that delineate ages older than 65 do not align with the current recommendations, as the emphasis is on appropriate screening history leading up to that point rather than continuing indefinitely into older age.