title: Cervical cancer incidence in young women: a historical and geographic controlled UK regional population study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The commencing age of cervical screening in England was raised from 20 to 25 years in 2004. Cervical cancer incidence in young women of England is increasing. It is not clear if this is due to either greater exposure to population risk factors or reduced cervical screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured if the relative risk of cervical cancer in younger women (20-29 years) of the north-east of England (NE) differed to that of women aged 30yrs and above since 2004. We also measured average annual percentage change (AAPC) in the 3 yr moving average incidence for all age-groups. Regional screening coverage rate and population risk factors were reviewed. Comparisons were made with Wales where screening continues to commence from the age of 20yrs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cervical cancer incidence in women aged 20-29 increased annually by an average of 10.3% between 2000 and 2009. The rise in women aged 30-39 was less steep (3.5%/year) but no significant rise was observed in women aged 40-49. Socioeconomic factors remained stable or improved during the time period except for the incidence of chlamydia, herpes simplex and in particular, genital warts, which increased significantly in young women. Data from Wales show similar results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of cervical cancers in young women of the NE is increasing. The rise in incidence is unrelated to the change in screening policy in 2004. Close monitoring of incidence in young women and a greater attempt to reverse the current decline in screening coverage of women aged 25-29 years are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE9 6SX, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Galaal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burnley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin-Hirsch
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bland
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leeson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paranjothy
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sasieni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult