Current guidelines for cervical cancer screening.
OBJECTIVE
To provide evidence-based information that will guide nurse practitioners in instituting the most current cervical cancer screening recommendations.


METHODS
A literature search covering the years 2006 to the present conducted through Medline, CINAHL, and OVID.


CONCLUSIONS
Human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical infections are highly prevalent among females under 21 years, yet this age group has a low incidence of cervical cancer. For young women, 90% of HPV infections regress in 24 months, and, in longitudinal studies, no invasive cervical cancer was detected. HPV co-testing is effective for women age 30 and over.


CONCLUSIONS
Current scientific evidence supports initiating cervical cancer screening for immunocompetent women at age 21, biennial screening between ages 21 and 29, and HPV DNA co-testing for women over 30. Nurse practitioners play an important role in integrating the newest guidelines into practice and improving the quality of healthcare regarding women's cervical health and cancer prevention.
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 01003, USA. Schwaiger@uhs.umass.edu
Constance
C
Schwaiger
Mary
M
Aruda
Sheryl
S
LaCoursiere
Richard
R
Rubin
D000328:Adult; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines