Cervical screening every five years ‘prevents as many cancers as every three’
The IndependentSign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Women could be screened for cervical cancer every five years instead of every three and as many cancers could still be prevented, a new study suggests. Researchers at King’s College London said that screening women aged 24 to 49 who test negative for human papillomavirus at five-year intervals prevented as many cancers as screening every three years. “Changing to five-yearly screening will mean we can prevent just as many cancers as before, while allowing for fewer screens.” Currently women in England aged 25 to 49 are invited for cervical screening every three years and those aged 50 to 64 every five years. “These promising results show most women and people with a cervix do not need to be screened as frequently as they are now.” Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “This large study shows that offering cervical screening using HPV testing effectively prevents cervical cancer, without having to be screened as often.