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Unscheduled cervical screening

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Additional cervical screening is NOT recommended in women who fall under the age group to be screened and who have had a screening test done within the previous 3-5 years even in any of the following situations:

  • women who are taking or starting to take oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

  • insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD)

  • in women who has
    • genital warts
    • vaginal discharge
    • pelvic infections

  • in women who have risk factors like
    • multiple sexual partners
    • heavy cigarette smokers

  • women who are pregnant - either antenatally, postnatally or after termination unless a previous screening test was abnormal (1)

  • women younger than 25 years of age in England and younger than 20 years of age in Scotland and Wales

  • women older than 65 years of age who have had three negative samples

  • if the woman has symptoms of possible gynaecological cancer. This includes (3):
    • postmenopausal bleeding. If the woman has postmenopausal bleeding and has attended regular screening, do not take a cervical sample. Examine and refer urgently (within 2 weeks) to a gynaecologist

    • suspicious-looking cervix - urgently refer the woman (within 2 weeks) to a gynaecologist. A cervical sample may be taken and suspicious looking cervix recorded on the form. The cervical cytology result may confirm cancer, but a negative result does not exclude cancer

    • abnormal bleeding (post-coital bleeding, intermenstrual bleeding, and blood-stained vaginal discharge) - urgently refer the woman (within 2 weeks) to a gynaecologist

Reference:


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