title: Cervical cytology screening in teens.
abstract: New guidelines for when to initiate cervical cancer screening have recently been revised. The American Cancer Society now recommends that screening be initiated within 3 years of the onset of vaginal intercourse but no later than 21 years of age. Natural history studies of human papillomavirus (HPV; the cause of abnormal cytology and cervical cancer) suggest that there is little risk of a significant precancerous lesion going undetected within the first 3 to 5 years after the onset of sexual activity. The new recommendations will assist in the over-referral and overtreatment of adolescents with HPV.
authors: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 245, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA. annam@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors: Anna-Barbara
authors: AB
authors: Moscicki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology