Cervical Cancer Screening

The annual rate of cervical cancer death has been in slow decline in part due to the broad implementation of screening technology. This annual death rate is also affected by risk factor exposure and discovery of new treatments. While the current rate, 2.2 deaths in 100,000 women, is the lowest recorded, cervical cancer still claimed the lives of over 5000 women last year. Early detection through screening remains central to the fight against cervical cancer. Current cervical cancer screening guidelines are provided and updated by professional organizations including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP), and American Cancer Society (ACS). As the primary interface between the public and the healthcare system, and as purveyors of preventative medicine, it is the charge of the family physician to be current and well-versed in cervical cancer screening guidelines.