What are the cervical cancer screening guidelines?

Per guidelines from the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer screening is critical for anyone 25-65 years of age who has an intact cervix (has not had a full hysterectomy and removed the cervix).

There are three types of cervical cancer screening tests:

1. A primary HPV test: detects high-risk HPV types that can cause cervical cancer
2. Pap test: cervical cytology, which looks for cancerous changes in cervical cells
3. A co-test: conducts both the Pap and HPV tests on the same sample

If you have normal results, screening guidelines state you should screen for cervical cancer every 3-5 years. However, depending on your screening history and other medical factors, your provider could recommend that you screen more often.

Your screening schedule is determined by:

• Which cervical cancer screening test was performed
• The collection method
• Your current results and history of results

To learn more, see our article about the cervical cancer screening guidelines.