Up to what age should cervical cancer screening be continued if adequate prior screening?

• A. 70
• B. 60
• C. 65
• D. 75

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that for average-risk women who have had adequate prior screening, cervical cancer screening can be stopped at 65. Adequate prior screening means a history of negative results that meets the guideline criteria (for example, three consecutive negative cytology results or two consecutive negative cotests within the last 10 years, with the most recent test in the past 5 years) and no history of CIN2+ disease. When these conditions are met, continuing screening beyond 65 offers little additional benefit and increases potential harms from false positives and procedures. Therefore, 65 is the recommended stop age. The other ages would either end screening too early or extend it beyond what is recommended for average-risk individuals with adequate prior screening. Exceptions exist for higher-risk histories (like prior CIN2/3 or hysterectomy for benign disease), where different follow-up applies.