- With Mayo Clinic internist
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
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Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, certified by the American Board of Family Practice, has been practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic since 1995 with special interests in breast diseases and women's health.
She is a consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and the Breast Diagnostic Clinic. She is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native stresses education and patient-related research and has been active in both areas since joining Mayo Clinic. She is the primary investigator at Mayo Clinic of several clinical trials evaluating new agents for the prevention of breast cancer and identification of biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer. Her other research and clinical interests include managing the health of women who are at increased risk of breast cancer, breast pain and hot flashes, and developing patient education decision-making tools for breast-related concerns. She is director of the Breast Diagnostic Clinic and is a member of the Women's Health Executive Committee. Dr. Pruthi has been newly elected as a member to the board of directors for the American Society of Breast Disease. She has assisted with a variety of articles for MayoClinic.com.
"Having an opportunity to share information with my patients in the way that will help them to understand and be able to make educated decisions about their own health is very important to me," she says.
"The Web has become a major information site for people, and I want them to get the best and accurate information to be able to make informed choices for themselves, their family members and friends."
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- Pap smear: Do I need one if I'm a virgin?
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Question
Pap smear: Still necessary after hysterectomy?
Are Pap smears still necessary if I'm 62 years old and have had a hysterectomy?
Answer
from Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
A Pap smear is an important, reliable screening test for early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Whether you need routine Pap smear screening after a hysterectomy depends on the type of hysterectomy.
If you had your uterus and cervix removed (total hysterectomy) for a noncancerous condition, you may be able to stop having Pap smears. However, if your hysterectomy was for a cancerous condition or you had your uterus removed but your cervix remains intact (partial hysterectomy), you still need regular Pap smears. In either case, regular pelvic exams and mammograms are recommended.
Your age matters, too. According to American Cancer Society guidelines, you may be able to stop routine Pap smear screening at age 70 if you've had three or more normal Pap smears in a row and no abnormal Pap smears for the past 10 years. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommend stopping routine Pap smear screening at age 65 if you've had adequate recent testing and you're not at high risk of cervical cancer. Ask your doctor what's best for you.
And even if you've stopped routine Pap smear screening, it's important to resume screening if you have a new sexual partner — whether you've had a hysterectomy or not.
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