Cervical cancer screening in Canada: 2021/2022
Cervical cancer screening guidelines
Provinces and territories recommend that cervical screening begin at age 21 or 25, continue until age 65 to 70 and occur every two to three years. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends screening participants aged 25-69 every three years, and organized cervical screening programs in BC, AB, NS and PE have increased their cervical screening start age to 25 to reflect these guidelines. NB and NL are currently considering this change.
Provincial and territorial screening guidelines
| P/T | Start age | Interval | Stop age | Plans to increase cervical screening start age to 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT* | No organized screening program available | |||
| NT | 21 | Annual until 3 consecutive negative tests then every 2 years | 69 | No current plans |
| NU | 21 if sexually active | 3 years | 70 with adequate negative cytology screening history in previous 10 years (i.e. 3 or more negative cytology tests) | No current plans |
| BC | 25 | 3 years | 69 | Implemented change in 2016 |
| AB | 25 | 3 years | 69 | Implemented change in 2016 |
| SK | 21 or 3 years post first sexual contact, whichever occurs later | 2 years until 3 consecutive negative tests then every 3 years | 69 | No current plans |
| MB | 21 | 3 years | 70 with adequate negative screening history in previous 10 years (i.e. 3 or more negative tests) | No current plans |
| ON | 21 if sexually active^ | 3 years | 70 with adequate negative screening history in previous 10 years (i.e. 3 or more negative tests) | Will formally change the age of initiation for cervical screening from 21 to 25 with the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in the program |
| QC~ | 21 | 2-3 years | 65 with 2 negative tests in previous 10 years | No current plans |
| NB** | 21 or 3 years post first sexual contact, whichever occurs later | Annual until 3 consecutive negative tests then every 2-3 years | 69 with adequate negative screening history in previous 10 years or 3 negative tests (for participants with little/no screening history) | Under consideration |
| NS | 25 | 3 years | 70 | Implemented change in 2019 |
| PE | 25 | 3 years | 65 with adequate negative screening history in previous 10 years (i.e. 3 or more negative tests) | Implemented change in 2020 |
| NL | 21 | Annual until 3 consecutive negative tests then every 3 years | 70 with adequate negative screening history in previous 10 years (i.e. 3 or more negative tests) | Under consideration |
YT: *Yukon will be following BC’s start age of 25 years.
ON: ^Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) is encouraging primary care providers to start cervical screening for patients at age 25 based on moderate quality evidence suggesting that people under age 25 do not benefit from cervical screening. The program will formally change the age of initiation for cervical screening from 21 to 25 with the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.
QC: ~We are currently working on a screening pathway for cervical cancer using HPV as primary test (report expected in 2021). This report will also include recommendations that might impact start and stop age as well as screening interval.
NB: **To be evaluated as part of the ‘Elimination of Cervical Partner Projects’ with CPAC.