U.S. Preventative Services Task Force Posts Draft Recommendation on Screening for Cervical Cancer

According to a Dec. 11 bulletin, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) posted a draft recommendation statement on screening for cervical cancer.

The bulletin said, “The Task Force recommends that clinicians screen women ages 21 to 29 every 3 years with a Pap test. For women ages 30 to 65, the Task Force recommends screening with an HPV test every 5 years. Alternative effective screening options for women 30 to 65 include getting a Pap test every 3 years or getting a combined HPV and Pap test every 5 years, also known as co-testing.”

Further, “The Task Force recommends against screening women younger than age 21, women older than age 65 who have had regular screenings with normal test results, and women of any age who have had a total hysterectomy.”

“The latest science shows that screening for cervical cancer with an HPV test is the optimal approach for women who are 30 to 65 years old,” says Task Force vice chair John Wong, M.D., MACP. “These women also have the option of getting screened with a Pap test or co testing. That said, Pap tests continue to be the best option for women in their 20s.”

According to the bulletin, almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. Evidence now shows that screening with an HPV test every 5 years provides the optimal balance of benefits and harms for women ages 30 to 65, helping detect the early signs of cervical cancer with fewer harms, like unnecessary follow up tests and procedures. Yet, all three screening methods—HPV tests, Pap tests, and co-testing—are effective and recommended by the Task Force. Current evidence continues to show that getting a Pap test every 3 years is the best screening approach for women ages 21 to 29.