Michael Ohl, MD

This study predicts that among women aged 30 to 64 years with 3 recent, negative Papanicolaou (Pap) smears, extending the interval for cervical cancer screening from 1 to 3 years would lead to an excess risk of cervical cancer of 3 in 100,000.

For women aged 30 to 44 years, preventing 1 case of cervical cancer through yearly Pap smears would require an additional 69,665 Pap smears and 3861 colposcopies (compared with screening 3 years after the last negative Pap smear). Clinicians should feel comfortable extending the interval for Pap smears from 1 to 3 years in women with prior normal results and a high likelihood of follow-up.

This study predicts that among women aged 30 to 64 years with 3 recent, negative Papanicolaou (Pap) smears, extending the interval for cervical cancer screening from 1 to 3 years would lead to an excess risk of cervical cancer of 3 in 100,000.

For women aged 30 to 44 years, preventing 1 case of cervical cancer through yearly Pap smears would require an additional 69,665 Pap smears and 3861 colposcopies (compared with screening 3 years after the last negative Pap smear). Clinicians should feel comfortable extending the interval for Pap smears from 1 to 3 years in women with prior normal results and a high likelihood of follow-up.

This study predicts that among women aged 30 to 64 years with 3 recent, negative Papanicolaou (Pap) smears, extending the interval for cervical cancer screening from 1 to 3 years would lead to an excess risk of cervical cancer of 3 in 100,000.

For women aged 30 to 44 years, preventing 1 case of cervical cancer through yearly Pap smears would require an additional 69,665 Pap smears and 3861 colposcopies (compared with screening 3 years after the last negative Pap smear). Clinicians should feel comfortable extending the interval for Pap smears from 1 to 3 years in women with prior normal results and a high likelihood of follow-up.