March 2003 • Volume 9 • Number 3 |
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in late January strongly recommended that sexually active women with an intact cervix be screened regularly for cervical cancer.
Specifically, women should begin receiving screening within three years of when they become sexually active or when they reach age 21, whichever comes first, said the task force report. They should continue regular screening until they are 65.
Women older than 65 with a history of normal Pap results and who are not otherwise at high risk for cervical cancer may safely discontinue regular screening, said the task force.
In addition to the proper ages at which to begin and end screening, the USPSTF recommendations also address appropriate screening intervals and screening methods. Although the report noted the evidence was insufficient to recommend for or against routine use of human papillomavirus testing as a primary cervical cancer screen at this time, trials are under way that should clarify the role of HPV testing in screening for cervical cancer.
Go to http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/3rduspstf/cervcan/cervcanrr.htm to read the recommendations and supporting materials. The new recommendations are supported by the National Cancer Institute and are largely consistent with recommendations from the American Cancer Society.
The AAFP Commission on Clinical Policies and Research is reviewing the task force's recommendations and evidence reports and plans to issue updated AAFP recommendations later this year. Current Academy policy on cervical cancer screening appears in the AAFP Summary of Policy Recommendations for Periodic Health Examinations, available at http://www.aafp.org/x10600.xml.
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Copyright © 2003 by
American Academy of Family Physicians.