Strategy for cervical cancer screening

Since the 1960s, due to the popularity of screening, cervical cancer deaths have declined significantly. In the United States, cervical cancer is the 18th most common cause of cancer deaths. It is expected that there will be 13,240 new cases in 2018, including 4,170 deaths. Most deaths from cervical cancer occur in people who are not adequately screened. Women in low-income communities, women of color, and women living in remote or rural areas make up these deaths related to cervical cancer.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) provides new recommendations for cervical cancer screening and provides women with more testing options. The biggest change is that women between the ages of 30-65 can choose to completely abandon cervical smears. New evidence shows that human papillomavirus (HPV) is sexually transmitted and almost all cervical cancer is caused by HPV. HPV causes changes in cervical cells, which can lead to cervical cancer. Women aged 30-65 years can choose to have an HPV test every five years to screen for cervical cancer, instead of having a cervical smear every three years. Avoid unnecessary tests. Thus avoiding additional costs and more follow-up problems. This is the first time that a separate HPV test is recommended to screen for cervical cancer, and this test is recommended regardless of sexual history. But Bruder predicts that Pap smears will not be replaced soon.

In the past, the recommendation for women of this age group was a cervical smear, also known as exfoliative cytology, a cervical smear every three years or combined with an HPV test every five years (co-testing). Women can still choose to use this method to screen for cervical cancer. For women aged 21-29, it is still recommended to have a Pap smear every three years. It is not recommended for women under 21 years of age because cervical cancer under the age of 21 is rare. Similarly, women who are adequately screened for cervical cancer over the age of 65 do not need to be tested. Those who are over 65 years old and have had 3 cervical smears or 2 joint examinations have no adverse results, nor have they had any adverse results in the past 10 years, and they no longer need to undergo cervical cancer screening, even if they have a new sex partner . The new guidelines are only for women who do not have any bad test results. People who have been diagnosed with highly premalignant lesions or cervical cancer should consult their doctor to discuss their detection methods.