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I requested to get them done yearly and my OB said that was standard. It is covered 100% by my insurance.

My OB does them every 3 years which does worry me. I might request at my next visit to have one done as I know my insurance covers yearly.

With a family history, you can absolutely do yearly paps. I will stick with every 3 years until a certain age, since I've had no history (myself or family) of irregular paps. Insurance will still cover them yearly.

My midwife will do it yearly. I do get a yearly breast exam/well-woman exam, and she asks if I want a pap.

I get one every year. No family history, but I have had a few abnormal pap results and I don't want to risk it.

It's every three years here... I think you can get them done more but have to pay, I believe that's what my friend opted to do. (Canada)

If you have a history I would push for yearly for sure!

Every year if you have a normal history increases your risk of unnecessary biopsies and the resulting harms. The guidelines were changed for evidenced based reasons. We have had a lot advances in research on the causes of cervical cancer and HPV and also testing for HPV. The guidelines have not been for yearly paps for >6 years. I do paps frequently for my patients and refuse annual paps unless the patient's personal history necessitates it. I follow evidence based guidelines and do not want to cause harm by doing unnecessary procedures/tests. Think of it like wanting a colonoscopy every year instead of the longer recommended interval - you're just opening yourself up to more chances for harm than having the benefits that you're supposed to get.

I have always gotten them every year, but I had an irregular one 15 years ago.

They will if you want but I am on the 3 yr plan since I don't have any issues

I just started to see a new doc after having my kids and was surprised to hear that I'd be getting a pap only every 5 years... I don't have any family history, and I have a history of normal paps, but I think 5 years is a long time. Since this is a new doc I'm not sure her thoughts yet on testing more often.... My old doc thought it was better to do it more often.

I would think with your family history you should get them annually!

@MenagerieMama: yes, all this! I also wanted to chime in that cervical cancers are not genetic/familial. Family history and genetics are really important predictors of many types of cancer (including breast and ovarian cancers), but cervical cancers are overwhelmingly virally instigated.

@turquoisemama: There are very specific algorithms and guidelines to follow. It would depend on your age, HPV status and exact pathology. For most abnormal results, after a certain amount of normal screenings you can go back to a normal interval. But it depends on a lot of variables and it is very specific to your history.