ACOG Publishes Updated Cervical Cancer Screening Guidance

Washington, D.C.-Today, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) released new guidance on cervical cancer screening that endorses the updated recommendations from the Health Resources and Services Administration's Women's Preventive Services Initiative. Committee Statement 28: "Screening for Cervical Cancer" marks the first time that ACOG guidance has included a screening option for patient-collected high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing.

"Too many people in the United States are needlessly suffering from cervical cancer. Underscreening-and lack of screening-is the most significant contributor to the development of this largely preventable illness," said ACOG President Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG. "All patients deserve access to screening options grounded in the best available science, and it is our goal to ensure that clinicians have the clear, evidence-based guidance they need to make that happen."

These recommendations now include the option for average-risk patients aged 30-65 years to collect their own samples for hrHPV primary screening every three years. Clinicians should only offer the patient-collected sampling option if patients prefer this method and if appropriate clinical infrastructure and oversight for notification, documentation, and referral for follow-up as indicated are in place.

"Patients in underserved communities experience higher rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality, and closing the gap requires screening to be appropriate, evidence-based, and accessible," said Christopher Zahn, MD, FACOG, ACOG chief of clinical practice. "These updated recommendations, including patient-collected hrHPV testing, give clinicians new tools to reach patients who have historically faced barriers to screening-but this expanded access must be paired with appropriate counseling and the necessary infrastructure."

In addition to including patient-collected hrHPV testing every three years as an option for patients aged 30-65 at average risk, the updated recommendations state that primary hrHPV testing every five years is preferred for patients aged 30-65. Recommendations for patients aged 21-29 years and for those over age 65 remain the same as in prior guidance.

Committee Statement 28: "Screening for Cervical Cancer" replaces Practice Advisory: "Updated Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines," originally published in April 2021. Read the full guidance.