Women Cancer Screening

Cervical Cancer Screening

• All women should begin cervical cancer screening at age 25.
• Women between the ages of 25 and 65 should have:
  • Primary HPV testing every 5 years. This test is not yet available at many centers/practices.
  • If this test is not available, you should be screened with co-testing, which is a combination of an HPV and Pap test. This should be done every 5 years.
  • If HPV testing is not available, then a Pap test alone should be performed every three years.
• Women over age 65 who have had regular cervical screenings that were normal should not be screened for cervical cancer.
• Women who have been diagnosed with cervical pre-cancer should continue to be screened until they meet one of the following criteria over the previous 10 years:
  • Two negative, consecutive HPV tests.
  • Or 2 negative, consecutive co-tests.
  • Or 3 negative, consecutive pap tests in the last 3-5 years.