Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines: Key Updates for Primary Care Physicians

Cervical cancer screening remains a cornerstone of preventive care for women, but variations in recommendations across organizations can lead to uncertainty for both clinicians and patients. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) currently recommends initiating screening with cytology alone every 3 years beginning at age 21 and continuing through age 29, with multiple screening options available for women aged 30 to 65, including cytology every 3 years, high-risk HPV testing every 5 years, or co-testing every 5 years.^1,2

In honor of September being Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Patient Care® sat down with Ada Stewart, MD, to review the current guidelines and discuss how primary care physicians can navigate the complexity of screening intervals and test modalities to support informed decision-making with their patients. Dr Stewart is a board-certified family physician at Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center in Columbia, South Carolina, and is the past president of the American Academy of Family Physician. Watch the video above for details.

Patient Care®: Can you review the latest clinical guidelines on cervical cancer screening in the US?

Ada Stewart, MD: Currently, the guidelines vary somewhat by organization, but as a family physician, we follow the USPSTF recommendations. These state that cervical cancer screening should begin at age 21 with cytology every 3 years, continuing through age 29.

For individuals aged 30 to 65 years, there are three options: cytology with HPV testing every 5 years, HPV testing alone every 5 years, or cytology alone every 3 years.

It can be confusing, and that’s part of the challenge we face on the front lines. We need to be sure we are following the guidelines correctly, and often, we have to double-check to ensure we are up to date because recommendations can change.

References:

1. US Preventive Services Task Force. Cervical Cancer: Screening. Updated August 21, 2018. Accessed September 9, 2025. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/cervical-cancer-screening
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cervical Cancer Screening. Updated January 12, 2022. Accessed September 9, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm