On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, The American Cancer Society released new guidelines for cervical cancer screening, calling for “less and more simplified screening.”
The CDC now recommends starting screening for cervical cancer at age 25 instead of 21. One of the reasons is because vaccination rates have improved. In the United States, a common viral infection called HPV (short for human papillomavirus) is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer. But today, thanks to an effective vaccine that protects against the worst strains of HPV, fewer women are experiencing precancerous changes in their cervix in their early 20s.
HPV and Pap tests are often performed together because they both include a pelvic exam. With a Pap test, cells are observed under a microscope to detect abnormal changes, but an HPV test looks for the presence of the virus itself. Men have higher rates of HPV than women, according to the CDC.
There has been a debate among physicians about which of the three ways is best for screening. Many believe that co-testing is better at catching cancer than HPV testing alone. The new guidelines by the American Cancer Society recommend only testing for HPV, and conducting no Pap tests at all. Many doctors prefer co-testing, however.