What is the cervical cancer screening schedule per USPSTF?

• A. For ages 21-29, cytology every 3 years; ages 30-65, co-testing every 5 years or cytology every 3 years; stop at 65 with adequate prior screening
• B. Cytology every year for all ages 21-65
• C. Stop cervical cancer screening at 65 regardless of prior screening
• D. For ages 30-65, cytology every 3 years only (no HPV testing)

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the screening plan for cervical cancer is age- and test-dependent, with options that balance accuracy and practicality. For ages 21–29, the recommended approach is cytology (a Pap test) every 3 years. Starting at age 30, you have two valid paths: either cytology alone every 3 years or co-testing with both cytology and an HPV test every 5 years. If a person has had adequate prior screening and no high-grade abnormalities, screening can stop at age 65.

This aligns with the best answer because it captures both the age-specific intervals and the two acceptable testing strategies after age 30, plus the stop-at-65 criterion with adequate prior screening. The other options misstate the schedule by favoring annual testing, insisting on stopping at 65 without considering prior screening history, or listing only cytology every 3 years for 30–65 without acknowledging that HPV co-testing every 5 years is also an acceptable alternative.