USPSTF Draft Recommendation Eliminates Cervical Cytology-HPV Cotesting for Women Over 30

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM

Women aged 30–65 should undergo cervical cancer screening with either cervical cytology alone every 3 years or high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing alone every 5 years, according to a draft recommendation statement from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (grade A recommendation).

This is a change from the USPSTF's 2012 guidelines, which recommended cytology alone every 3 years, or cytology plus HPV testing every 5 years, for women in this age group.

The rest of the task force's recommendations haven't changed. In particular, women aged 21–29 should be screened every 3 years with cytology alone (grade A recommendation). And the following groups should not be screened (all grade D recommendations):

• Females younger than 21.

• Women older than 65 who've already been screened sufficiently.

• Women who've had their cervix removed during hysterectomy.

The recommendations apply to average-risk females (e.g., no history of high-grade precancerous lesions), regardless of their sexual history or HPV vaccination status.