Cervical Cancer Screening from Amer. College of OB/GYN & Women's Preventative Service Initiative
May 20, 2026
Self collection paps/cultures are better than none. Sexual abuse survivors & atrophic postmenopausal women often can't tolerate speculums.Thinner/shorter devices are often inadequate re:childbirth/vaginal laxity/organ prolapse & affect visibility.See below
Self collected pap smears/HPV, while not always the best option, are better than nothing. Sexual abuse survivors as well as severely atrophic post-menopausal women may not be able to tolerate speculums and thus shy away, get nervous or even delay well women gyn exams. Weight,childbirth,vaginal laxity, organ prolapse can all impact and limit visibility of the cervix especially when trying to minimize patient discomfort with thinner or virginal, shorter or pediatric speculums which often times do not work.
Regardless of whether or not you need a pap or HPV or cultures, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE A YEARLY PELVIC AND BREAST EXAM (WHY WE CALL IT YOUR ANNUAL) WELL WOMAN EXAM TO TALK ABOUT CYCLE CHANGES, OSTEOPOROSIS AND CARDIOVASCULAR PREVENTION, PERIMENOPAUSE, FERTILITY, CONTRACEPTION, (IF NEEDED) MENOPAUSE, URINARY AND VAGINAL/VULVAR ISSUES/DISCOMFORT/PROBLEMS AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR OVARIES AND UTERUS (IF YOU STILL HAVE THEM) ARE NORMAL AND HEALTHY. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ABOUT LIFE STYLE, NUTRITION AND GET EXPERT ADVICE FROM A BOARD CERTIFIED WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE PROVIDER INSTEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA MISINFORMATION AND INFLUENCERS AND ON LINE TELEMEDICINE PLATFORMS. NOTHING CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF AN IN-PERSON EXAM. IT'S MERIT AND WHAT IT CAN DISCLOSE IS INVALUABLE AND CAN BE LIFE AND HEALTH SAVING.
Please consider coming to Women Wise Holistic Healthcare and Wellness.!! We are trauma informed, know how to take the edge off these exams offering emotional, physical and spiritual comfort and making this whole experience as pleasant as possible. We meet each individual woman where she is and I have even had to see one specific patient 18 times who was highly traumatized, before I could actually do her exam. We desensitized her over many months and going forward, she knows she doesn't have to be afraid anymore. This is a win win for both the patient and myself and our practice and I am very proud of her, me and our process, sensitivity and kindness. In the old days, women were gaslight or told just told to "Just get over it" or suggested she get examined under anesthesia. How truly disempowering those times have been for women. NO MORE should either of these things ever happen AND CERTAINLY, NEVER WITH US !!
ACOG Endorses 2026 WPSI Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines
April 28, 2026
This article was taken from "Doximity" in it's entirelty.
In a new ACOG Committee Statement, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists endorses the 2026 Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI) cervical cancer screening recommendations, adopted by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), with specific qualifications—particularly regarding patient-collected high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing.
Age 21–29 years: Continue cervical cytology alone every 3 years. No changes from prior guidance.
Age 30–65 years: Clinician-collected primary hrHPV screening every 5 years using U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved tests is now the preferred strategy. Co-testing every 5 years remains acceptable when primary hrHPV testing is unavailable or after patient counseling.
Patient-collected hrHPV testing: May be considered every 3 years for patients aged 30–65 years using clinician-ordered, U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved kits, provided systems for documentation, notification, and follow-up are in place. ACOG recommends a 3-year interval due to insufficient data supporting a 5-year cadence for self-collection.
Age >65 years and post-hysterectomy: Routine screening is not clinically indicated in patients older than 65 years with adequate prior screening (three consecutive negative cytology results or two consecutive negative co-tests within 10 years, with the most recent within 3–5 years) or in those who have undergone hysterectomy with removal of the cervix and no history of cervical cancer or high-grade precancer.
