For many years women have been told to receive a Pap Smear annually.

With recent changes to breast exam recommendations, a new study has come out by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that says women should begin Pap Smears at age 21 and follow up only every two years.

"The research has shown us lately that we now know that the Human Papilloma Virus which causes the cervical dysplasia can be cleared by the female body," said Dr. Todd Drexel, an OB/GYN with Graves Gilbert Clinic. "We also know that any dysplasia usually grows slowly in most cases."

Dr. Drexel believes it is the slow growth of cervical dysplasia that has caused the change in when a female should be screened.

He says screening every other year is feasible.

"I think taking a look down below every year just to make sure everything looks normal is certainly prudent, but maybe not grabbing a Pap Smear," said Dr. Drexel.

Dr. Drexel says problems come with abnormal pap smears.

"A lot of people were acting on that abnormal Pap Smear in the sense that they were doing surgical procedures on the cervix, potentially on young women, which could lead to pre-term deliveries and other complications later in life, so we now know that we can watch those abnormal Pap Smears a little longer without acting," said Dr. Drexel.

But others still feel women should come in every year.

"I definitely feel that screening should be done at the very least on an annual basis to make sure that there isn't any abnormal cells that develop as well as to check for any bacterial diseases that could be prevented and also caught early," said Ta'Neka Vaden, a Nurse Practitioner at Western Kentucky University's Health Services Center.

Dr. Drexel says he does not believe the decision has any tie to financial reasons or health care debates.

"I do think that this decision has been driven predominantly by research, like I was saying before," said Dr. Drexel. "I'm not sure about the breast cancer screening issue. I'm not on board with that just yet."

The new two year recommendation goes for women ages 21 to 29.

Above age 30 the study says Pap Smears should be done every three years.

Those who completed the study say it has been under review for several years, and there's no danger in the recommendations.