New Guidelines for Cervical Cytology Screening Released

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released its new clinical management guidelines for cervical cytology screening today.

New Recommendations

• Screening should begin at age 21 years (previously at the age of first sexual intercourse)
• Frequency of screening: every two years for women aged 21-29 years; for women aged 30 and older -- if results have been negative for intraepithelial lesions and malignancy for three times they may be screened at every three years
• More frequent screening may be done in high-risk groups including: HIV infection, immunosuppression, exposure to diethylstilbestrol in utero, previously treated for CIN2, CIN3 or cancer
• Discontinue screening: at either 65 or 70 years in women with three or more negative cytology test results in a row and no abnormal results in the past 10 years; immediately after total hysterectomy for benign indications and no prior history of high-grade CIN
• Both liquid-based and conventional methods for cervical cytology are acceptable for screening
• Co-testing with a combination of cytology and HPV DNA testing: appropriate for women older than 30 years.

Full text from the ACOG (Free)

New York Times story (Free)