Policy for cervical screening during pregnancy
Endorsed by the Australian Populations Health Principal Committee - May 2008
Policy Statement
The National Cervical Screening Program recommends that cervical screening by Pap smear should be offered to every women presenting for antenatal care who has not had cervical screening within the past two years.Key Points
- The National Cervical Screening Program recommends that all women aged 18 to 69 years, who have ever been sexually active, 1 should have cervical screening by Pap smear every two years.
- A cervical Pap smear should be offered to every woman receiving antenatal care who has not had cervical screening within the past two years.
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advises that women should be reassured there is no evidence that a properly collected Pap smear causes any pregnancy problems. However, they should be warned of possible spotting and minor bleeding following the Pap smear.
Rationale
Cervical cancer is not common during pregnancy. However, the highest rates of cervical abnormalities occur in women of reproductive age.Pregnancy is a time when women often have the greatest interest in their health and may avail themselves of cervical screening if it is offered. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has provided advice to the Program that a Pap smear should be offered to every well pregnant woman, without symptoms of cervical cancer, who has not had cervical screening within the past two years. This should be undertaken as part of antenatal care, ideally before 24 weeks gestation.
Screening may be undertaken at the booking visit unless there is some clinical reason such as bleeding which would preclude collecting the Pap smear. The Pap smear could then be done at a subsequent visit.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advise health clinicians to use the method of cervical cytology collection with which they are most comfortable.
Pregnant women with abnormal smear results should be managed in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines Screening to prevent cervical cancer: guidelines for the management of asymptomatic women with screen detected abnormalities.
[33
-``-0
21+ ` ```<sup>1</sup>] The National Cervical Screening Program recommends women who have ever been sexually active should commence having Pap smears between the ages of 18 and 20, one or two years after first sexual intercourse, whichever is later.
Page currency, Latest update: 17 May, 2011