Cervical Screening in Wales to change from every 3 years to every 5 years

[DuvetHugger]

AIBU in thinking that this is a terrible decision?

I was due a cervical screening this year but I am assuming I will not get my invite for another 2 years.

Why do you think they are doing this? Funding?

Why are women suffering again!! Does no one give a toss about our health?

I agree and think it's awful, I had my first smear test at 25 that ended up requiring a colposcopy and biopsy and have had several abnormal smears since. Saying that, I don't know the science behind it. I'm assuming it's because they now test for HPV and if it is not present then 5 years is considered a safe timeframe between testing? I'm genuinely curious.

Yes they say that if you don't have HPV present, your chances of getting cervical cancer are very low.

I read in the Times that there were trials going on of swabs to check for HPV - that women were much more likely to go for a swab than a full blown smear test, and I thought, well get on with it then. It was saying that as women get older they are more likely to experience pain with smear tests and so the swabs would be better. I think the idea if that if the swab is positive for HPV you would have a smear, but only then.

Ultimately a few cases might get missed this way but on balance far more will be caught.

I’m in England and my last smear was tested for HPV only - still had to undergo the full experience though. Not sure how long that’s been going on for.

Possibly funding.... but I'd also argue the success of the HPV vaccine and awareness has been effective meaning a reduction in screening required??

I think there should be an age cut-off. The vaccine has been hugely successful but for those of us that never had a vaccine, I think they should continue to be offered every 3 years.

If the incidence rate is going down (e.g. because of HPV vaccine) it may well make sense - from a health outcomes perspective - to test less.

If you test every three years and incidence is going down, that testing is going to catch fewer real positive cases. But the number of false positive will be the same. False positives with smears can cause harm, when it’s more likely to catch cancer the risk of harm from a false positive may be justified, but as the chance of finding cancer goes down the risk of harm from false positives becomes more significant. It changes the point at which testing becomes the best option. So 5 years might be better, purely from a health outcomes perspective.

The cost argument is also reasonable, though. Money that is spent on testing for something that isn’t so likely to be found might be better spent on something else.

I don’t know what the reasoning is for this decision, or the data behind it. But I wouldn’t automatically see it as a bad thing.

I had my last smear at the age of 61. If I'd have been 60 I would be given another when I was 65.
This is in England.

There are non-HPV cervical cancers & high risk strains not covered by the HPV vaccination.