Women’s health evidenced-based guidelines are updated frequently by various national organizations, and it can be challenging for a busy clinician to remain current. Women’s Health Guidelines include such topics as STIs, Contraception, Cervical Cancer Screening, Breast Cancer Screening and Osteoporosis Screening. 

In 2021 the CDC updated their STI guidelines, so it is imperative that clinicians be familiar with the changes. Specific STI management that have been updated include gonorrhea, herpes, and PID.

2022 Women’s Health Guidelines

Adding to the challenge of keeping updated are the controversies that sometimes arise between differing guidelines issued by various organizations. This can create confusion regarding which guidelines clinicians should follow in practice. For example, there are multiple differing guidelines for breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening and osteoporosis management including follow-up recommendations. 

An example of conflicting guidelines are the significant differences in breast cancer guidelines between the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). For example, the USPSTF recommends screening begin at age 50 while the ACS recommends screening begin at 45 years old. Clinicians must decide which guidelines to implement in clinical practice and this can be confusing. During my presentation I will offer advise on how to determine which guidelines to follow in clinical practice. 

Cervical cancer screening and new “risk based” follow-up guidelines have also been updated. Most recently the American Cancer Society now recommends (FDA approved) hrHPV primary screening start at age 25 and continue every 5 years until age 65. Several national organizations are in agreement with these new guidelines. 

However, many health care systems continue to follow the previous guidelines from 2012. These recommendations include; screening start at age 21 with Pap, repeated every 3 years until age 30 and then cotesting with Pap/hrHPV is recommended every 5 years (if tests are negative) until age 65 years. 

If you want to learn more about the most current Women’s Health Guidelines, Hot Off the Press, I invite you to attend my 2022 SBHPP presentations. 

Skin Bones CME Conferences

Hit the reset button while earning continuing medical education credits at our CME conferences, where you can travel to a vacation destination; earn CME credits with like-minded nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians; and ‘unplug’ while enjoying a new locale! Check out our upcoming Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts 2023 CME Conferences and 2024 CME Conferences! At every event, the best of the medical community gathers to earn CME credits, network, and gain knowledge on dermatology, orthopedics, cardiology and emergency medicine, women’s health, pain management and pharmacology, diabetes, ER, and mental health. On-line CME courses and Virtual CME are also available so you have the option of earning CME credits online.

See Mimi Secor speak at a 2022 Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts CME Conference. Click here to find out where you can see her live and in-person!