How should HPV screening be done? I went in ready to argue against the new policy and the numbers talked me out of it. Facts and references, from the AEPCC screening guideline (2025):
- The comparison table (pages 111-112 of the guideline) is the key piece.
- Vaccinated + HPV test every 5 years: 62% reduction in incidence.
- The old scheme, yearly cytology without vaccination: 60% reduction.
- Vaccinated + HPV test every YEAR: 85% reduction.
- The scheme we actually had, cytology every 3 years without vaccination: around 342 euros of cost per woman for a 32% reduction. The 5-yearly HPV test is clearly better cost-benefit.
- The guideline also explains the strategy switch between cytology and HPV test by age: cytology-based screening up to 35, then HPV test every 5 years, with follow-up only if positive.
My conclusion after reading it: the new policy is defensible and I’ll pay out of pocket for whatever intermediate HPV tests I want for myself. It’s one of those cases where “they cut the yearly screening” sounds like austerity but the numbers say otherwise.
Reference: AEPCC Guia 14, Cribado 2025
Related: VPH
(from a Facebook group thread, June 2026; rewritten as a fact list)