What we know about the new NHS cervical screening guidelines
New NHS guidelines in England will invite women aged 25-49 with negative HPV tests to cervical screenings every five years instead of every three, starting next month.
The change follows recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee and aligns England's screening intervals with those of Wales and Scotland.
Analysis from King's College London indicates that extending the screening interval to five years for HPV-negative women maintains a similar rate of cancer detection as the current three-year interval.
Health Minister Ashley Dalton stated the change aims to increase testing opportunities for women with HPV while extending screening intervals for those with negative tests, emphasising early detection and treatment.
Experts encourage women to attend screenings when invited, with the NHS implementing measures like phone reminders to improve participation, while Cancer Research UK highlights the impact of screening and HPV vaccination on reducing cervical cancer rates.
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