Cervical Cancer Screening: HPV Testing Recommended for Women Over 30
The guidelines for cervical cancer screening among women aged 30 to 65 are changing. The French National Authority for Health (HAS) recommends that the HPV test, which is more effective for these women, replace the Pap test. Santé publique France, the HAS, and the INCa have developed a “Questions and Answers” document to provide further details.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Nearly 80% of people (both men and women) will be infected at some point in their lives. In most cases, the infection is temporary because the body clears the virus on its own. However, in nearly 10% of cases, the papillomavirus persists. If it is a so-called “high-risk” HPV, it can develop into cancer.
Screening helps detect abnormalities in cervical cells and treat them before they develop into cancer, or diagnose cancers at an early stage, thereby improving the chances of recovery.
To inform women, the HAS has made a “Questions and Answers” document available on its website. Developed in collaboration with Santé publique France and the National Cancer Institute (INCa), it aims to provide details on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its modes of transmission, as well as on prevention and new screening protocols based on age.
A new national program for women who have not been screened
Since May 2018, cervical cancer screening has been based on a national organized screening program (PNDO). It is intended for all women between the ages of 25 and 65. Women who have not been screened according to the recommended schedule receive a letter from the regional cancer screening coordination center inviting them to undergo screening, which is 100% reimbursed.
Screening procedures now vary depending on the woman’s age
For women aged 25 to 29, the previous screening protocols remain in place: screening is performed via cytology every 3 years, following two initial tests conducted one year apart with normal results.
For women aged 30 to 65, the HAS has updated the screening protocols (revising its 2010 recommendations). It recommends that the HPV test, which is more effective for these women, replace the Pap smear. The HPV test is performed 3 years after the last cytological exam with a normal result. A new test is repeated every 5 years, up to age 65, provided the test result is negative. This HPV test is reimbursed at 70% by health insurance, outside the PNDO.
Unlike the Pap test, which examines cell morphology, the HPV test looks for the presence of high-risk HPV DNA in women. Both tests are performed by collecting cells from the cervix (known as a “smear”).
For more information, consult your doctor, gynecologist, or midwife. See also:
Cervical cancer
thematic dossier
Cervical cancer, which is caused in nearly 100% of cases by a sexually transmitted human papillomavirus infection, can be prevented through HPV vaccination and screening.
Human papillomavirus infections
thematic dossier
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The infection is usually asymptomatic and clears up within a few months. In some...
