Hellobee Boards

I think it's good for women to see their doctors once a year. I understand why doctors wouldn't want to continue prescribing a drug to someone they hadn't seen in more than a year. And honestly, when I was on the pill that was usually the reminder that I needed to go in for my annual.

However I think there should be a little grace period too. Every gyn I've had would call in one extra refill (whether month or 90 day) so I could continue, as long as I scheduled my appt. I don't actually know what the law was.

Then I went off the pill and had a baby and did not go back to any doctor until I got pregnant again. So I see why they want to use it as an incentive to go in. But I don't think they should hold your pills hostage over a few weeks.

My doctor will always cover a gap in refills if it's not time for my annual yet - that seems silly that your doctor wouldn't (or would make it difficult), considering insurance may not cover the annual until a full year has elapsed. I worked in a clinic for awhile and it was standard practice to send messages for practitioners to ask for refills.

However, I do think that annuals are still necessary. First, they're 100% covered by insurance - so why not? Second, there are some very real risks to birth control and those risks vary dependent on the BC you choose to use - so not only is it important to educate on those, but also identify risk factors. Like for example, if you weren't going to the doctor, you might not realize your BP has elevated, which may give you headaches, and increase your risk for stroke. BCP increases risk for stroke as it is - so risk for stroke is even higher... So yeah, I think it's good to have that annual check!

@Tanjowen: My doctor only requires a pap every two year as long as there is no history of abnormal results.

My family doctor IS also my OB so maybe that makes a difference. She's the only doctor I see.

@Mrs. Pen: is agree that there are still risks that warrant an annual appt.

@Tanjowen: I also feel like it would be fine for your family doc to prescribe it. I guess they wouldn't know as much of the nitty gritty about bcp as a gyn but to renew a standing prescription it seems like that should do it. Like @Mrs. Pen: I saw a gyn that was also a primary care doc so she did everything, until I needed an OB.

And yes, no need for a pap every year. Every 2-5 or something now.

@Tanjowen: huh. That's peculiar to me. First that a family doctor wouldn't prescribe BCP and secondly that none would allow e/o year paps instead..

The wellness check is once per calendar year, so as long as it's a new year, I don't see how they can say it's too early. I can go in Dec and Jan if I want and it'd be covered. But I've never had a problem with having my doctor give me a refill as needed after a year say if I had an appointment in March, then didn't go until Oct the following year.

Another vote for an annual visit...if only because I think people underestimate the risks of BCP's, especially to cause blood clots...

And if you haven't had abnormal Paps or a high-risk HPV screen, there is absolutely NO reason to make you get a yearly Pap smear!

On a lighter note, have you seen the Amy Schumer satire about birth control? ROFL.

It's actually not recommended to get a pap screen every year anymore. http://www.acog.org/~/media/Districts/District%20II/PDFs/USPSTF_Cervical_Ca_Screening_Guidelines.pdf
It's still recommended to have a yearly well woman exam though.

@PurplePumps: I think that makes more sense too- ha! My vision insurance is like that, but my health insurance isn't. It's annoying my clinic operated by the full year rule as a standard policy since most people didn't know their insurance terms.

I think annual visits are good, smart and necessary, but my doc would call in a month to cover the gap if needed.

I think annual visits are good and honestly a really smart thing. But I've always had doctors who would get me BCP if needed. Usually they'd just write a couple extra refills on to the annual prescription do that I have scheduling flexibility.

@PurplePumps: every insurance I've ever been on requires 365 days between appointments for things covered annually. It can be a little annoying with scheduling sometimes but not too bad.

So, this winter, I was good and had scheduled my annual visit...except it snowed that day and the office was closed. We moved the appointment, and guess what, it snowed that day too! When I finally was able to get in, I had lapsed on my scrip, but my doc told me not to do that again, he'd call in a filler for me based on the fact that my appointment was actually scheduled.

Is everyone running out before your appointment because the doctor doesn't take into account that each pill pack is 28 pills but most months are longer? You need 13 packs to cover you for 364 days so if you only have 12 refills you'll never make it to the calendar date of last year's appointment..

@Tanjowen: Yea, that sounds like less a problem with the rule, and more a problem with your doctor's office. I wold be peeved about a lot in that situation... 1) why couldn't you schedule an appointment 3 weeks out? 2) why did it take them so long to get back to you? 3) how on earth did they prescribe the wrong med?

I might be GYN shopping if I were you.

@kiddosc: Really? After my 6 week check-up, my practice told me they don't need to see me for 3 years!

@daniellemybelle: You should still be having a yearly assessment, whether that's with your GYN or a primary care doctor. My GYN will still do a pelvic and breast exam every year along with a general physical exam, but the screening tests are only done every 3-5 years. http://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/ACOG-Departments/Annual-Womens-Health-Care/Well-Woman-Recommendations