For these women, the test is more efficient and more reliable than the cytological examination.
Each year, 3,000 women are affected by cervical cancer. For several years, screening has been organized in France to detect the disease as early as possible. Women between the ages of 25 and 65 should take Pap smears at regular intervals. Since Thursday July 11, the guidelines of the High Authority for Health (HAS) have been modified: the organization now recommends favoring the HPV smear test in women over 30 years of age.
#Communicated | HAS is proposing to the public authorities a national cervical cancer screening strategy including the #HPV
This test is recommended for women over 30, in whom it is more effective than cytological examination
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– High Authority Health (@HAS_sante) July 11, 2019
Screening: an effective prevention tool
80% of men and women are infected once in their lifetime with the human papillomavirus (HPV). In most cases, the infection clears without complication. For others, it can be the cause of cancer. According to theNational Cancer Institute90% of cervical cancer cases could be prevented through screening.
The HPV test is more effective for women over 30
Since 2010, the HAS has recommended that all women aged 25 to 65 get screened regularly. The examination takes the form of a smear which makes it possible to take cells from the cervix to then analyze their morphology and detect pre-cancerous lesions. Thursday, July 11, screening recommendations have changed: for women over 30, the HPV test is first priority. The latter is also carried out using a cervico-uterine sample, but it makes it possible to measure the presence of HPV, in particular the forms associated with a high risk of cancer. Contrary to the cytological examination, to be done every three years, the HPV test can be carried out every 5 years.
“In about 20 to 30% of cases, the smear will not detect precancerous lesions, explains Dr. Joseph Monsonego, gynecologist and member of the collective HPV Now. The HPV test does not ignore precancerous lesions in more than 99% of cases”. viruses do not cause cancerous lesions and some infections disappear naturally.For women under 30, the HAS suggests maintaining the cytological examination.
Towards self-screening?
The organization’s proposals go further for women in their thirties: some of them could have recourse to self-testing in the event that they are far from medical structures or do not get tested regularly. Kits allow you to perform the vaginal sample yourself. These recommendations must now be examined by the Ministry of Health, which will decide whether or not to modify the organization of screening.
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