title: Delaying Pap test screening in the adolescent population: an evidence-based approach.
abstract: Cervical cancer screening guidelines have evolved significantly over the past ten years in the adolescent population. The objective of this article is to review the cervical screening guidelines in the adolescent population as well as examine the evidence and studies that support delaying screening until 21 years old. Delaying HPV and Papanicolaou testing until 21 years old is safe and will not increase cervical cancer rates in the adolescent population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. Electronic address: lisa.spiryda@uscmed.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa Beth
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Spiryda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Judith T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Burgis
mesh_terms: D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Cervical cancer screening; Cervical dysplasia; HPV in adolescents