Cervical screening — RACGP Fellowship MCQ

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EasyPreventive health and screeningCervical screeningRACGP Fellowship

An asymptomatic 29-year-old patient with a cervix attends your suburban clinic. Their last cervical screening test was five years ago and HPV was not detected. They ask what screening is now due. What is the most appropriate preventive measure?

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Correct answer: B — Offer a cervical screening test with HPV testing now

The Australian National Cervical Screening Program recommends primary HPV testing every 5 years for people aged 25–74 years. This patient's last screening was exactly 5 years ago with a negative HPV result, meaning they are now due for their next screening. The appropriate next step is to offer a cervical screening test with HPV testing immediately (option C). Option A incorrectly refers to cytology-only screening at a 2-yearly interval, which is no longer standard practice in Australia since transition to primary HPV screening in 2017. Option D is inappropriate because there is no abnormal result requiring colposcopy; screening precedes colposcopy referral. Option C conflates cervical and breast cancer screening. Option E inappropriately defers screening; screening is due now, not at an arbitrary future age.

Reference: National Cervical Screening Program | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (health.gov.au), updated March 2026. Primary recommendation: 5-yearly HPV screening for ages 25–74. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-cervical-screening-program