Obstetrics And Gynecology. Lisa Boden, M.D., of Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, discusses several conditions for which women see their gynecologists. These include heavy periods, laparoscopic hysterectomy, Pap smears and the HPV vaccine to protect against the human papillomavirus that can cause cervical cancer. Dr. Boden says early cervical cancer is difficult to detect and that is why Pap smears are important. She discusses how often a woman should see her gynecologist for a Pap smear.