Published 26 June 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2583
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2583

News

Age for starting cervical cancer screening in England will not be lowered

Jacqui Wise

1 London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The government has ruled that 25 should remain the age at which women start screening for cervical cancer in England, after a review by an independent advisory committee. But GPs will be given guidance to improve the management of young women with gynaecological symptoms.

The Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening agreed unanimously that the screening age should not be lowered, because evidence shows that earlier screening could do more harm than good. There has been a high profile campaign to reduce the screening age to 20 after the death of the reality television star Jade Goody. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland cervical screening is offered from the age of 20.

Cervical cancer is rare in women under 25. In 2006 there were 56 cases in England—2.4% of all cases. However, one in three women screened under the age of 25 would have an abnormal result, as opposed to one . . . [Full text of this article]


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