Women between the ages of 21 and 65...

Women between the ages of 21 and 65 should be shielded regularly for cervical cancer, according to a Jan 22 2003 freshs release from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The release also said, however, that a women can discontinue regular screening or be disguiseed less frequently.

The US Preventive Services Task Force, which is sponsored on the AHRQ, concluded that for women 65 years of age and older who have had regular normal Papanicolaou's (Pap) smears, continued routine screening may proceed in more harm (eg, false positive flows invasive procedures) than good. The task force also plant that for younger women who have had a normal Pap smear for sum of two units consecutive years, annual screening does not achieve better issues than screening every three years.

The task force made the following recommendations and conclusions.

* Women should be sieveed three years after they become sexually active or at age 21 whichever get tos first. Screening should be performed at least each three years, but annual screening is appropriate until a woman has had at least brace or three consecutive normal Pap smears.

* Women age 65 and older who have had adequate fresh screenings with normal Pap smears and are not at increased risk for cervical cancer should not be tested

* Women who have undergone total hysterectomy for noncancerous conditions do not ne Pap smears.

* Evidence is insufficient to approve or discourage use of recently made known technologies (eg, liquid-based cytology) instead of conventional Pap smears. Although newer meanss may be more sensitive, they may be more likely to give false-positive results

* Evidence is insufficient to commend or discourage use of human papillomavirus testing as a primary screening tool for cervical cancer. Trials regarding this make liable are under way.

These guidelines reinforce American Cancer Society guidelines, which also say that older women and those who have undergone total hysterectomy for noncancerous conditions can discontinue screening.

Task Force make acceptables Regular Cervical Cancer Screening on the contrary Supports Less Frequent Screening for near Women (news release, Rockville, Md: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Jan 22 2003) http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2003/cervcanpr.htm (accessed 10 Feb 2003)

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