New Cervical Cancer Screening Guideline Aims to Improve Accessibility
The updated guideline for cervical cancer screening introduces the option of self-collection of vaginal samples for HPV testing and new guidance on when screening can end.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is introducing two key changes for cervical cancer screening: the option of self-collection of vaginal samples for primary Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing (although clinician-collected cervical samples are still preferred) and new guidance on when individuals can safely stop being screened for cervical cancer. The update is published in a report in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the flagship journal of ACS.
These updates will help improve compliance with screening and reduce the risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer, says Robert Smith, PhD, senior vice president, early cancer detection science at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the report.
How the New Guideline Compares to the Previously Published Guideline
| 2020 Guideline | 2025 Guideline | |
| Self-collection for primary HPV testing | Not included | Self-collected vaginal specimens done privately in a clinic or at home, without a health care provider present, are acceptable for HPV testing as part of screening for cervical cancer. As long as specimens are HPV negative, screening with self-collection should be repeated every 3 years. Clinician-collected cervical specimens are preferred and should be done every 5 years. |
| Stopping (Exiting) Cervical Screening Safely | Individuals with a cervix who have an average risk of developing cervical cancer and who have had regular screening in the past 10 years with normal results and no results of CIN2 or a more serious diagnosis within the past 25 years may stop cervical cancer screening. | Individuals with an average risk of developing cervical cancer may stop being screened after having negative primary HPV tests or negative co-testing using HPV tests and cytology testing (Pap tests) at age 60 and 65. If primary HPV tests or co-testing are not available, 3 consecutive negative cytology tests at the recommended screening interval, with the last test at age 65, are acceptable. |
This update expands the 2020 ACS Cervical Cancer Screening Guideline for individuals with a cervix who have an average risk for developing cervical cancer. The incidence and death rates of cervical cancer in the United States have significantly decreased over the past several decades, primarily due to the widespread adoption of screening. Recommendations for screening change over time, driven by improved understanding of the disease's natural progression, the recognized role of high-risk HPV infection, and advances in screening technology. For instance, in 2024 and 2025, the FDA approved new options for self-collection of vaginal specimens for HPV testing—a significant advance in cervical cancer screening.
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