New recommendations this week on women's health screenings have many women confused. Doctors say the new guidelines may help make screening more focused on those who need it most.

On Monday, a federal panel suggested that mammograms should be delayed in most women until after age 50. The recommendation has met opposition among most physicians and the American Cancer Society, who say screenings have helped save lives.

By contrast, the ACS supports a new recommendation issued Friday by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists against annual screening for cervical cancer. The organization suggests women should not start getting a Pap test until age 21 and then only every other year. After age 30, women who have not had irregular test results should have pap smears every three years.

"There are still going to be patients that come every year or even more frequently to get their pap smear," said Dr. Michael Armstrong, an Ob/Gyn at UNC Healthcare. "It's just that for the majority of the population that have been getting that screening yearly, they may not require that yearly screen."

But knowing where you fit in the guidelines can be confusing.

"Remember HRT, hormone replacement therapy? Now the breast exams, now the Pap smears, it's all very confusing to women," said Noelia Lebron of Raleigh. "I wish they would make up their minds and tell us exactly what we should be doing."

Armstrong said women who have had abnormal pap smears or have other risk factors like irregular menstrual cycles should still get regular Pap tests. But he's hopeful the new guidelines will target screening to those who need it most.

"Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers where people who are developing the cancer, they either have not been screened or they probably have not been screened in five years," he said. "So hopefully by setting these new guidelines, we'll actually increase screening."

But doctors caution that women should not take this news as a pass on their annual physical exams. Armstrong said a pelvic exam is still important, especially for younger women, to screen for infection or other medical conditions.