Red Whale Primary Care Pod Who is eligible for cervical cancer screening, and how do you decide whether varicella post-exposure prophylaxis is needed?
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Oct 24, 2025 The discussion begins with upcoming changes to cervical cancer screening, shifting to a five-year interval for most people. They emphasize the significance of HPV testing and its impact on cancer prevention. Varicella vaccination is on the horizon, set to be included in the UK childhood schedule. Listeners learn about the evolving guidelines on post-exposure prophylaxis for chickenpox, emphasizing the new oral antiviral approach. The hosts also explore who is at high risk and how to assess exposure, making the conversation informative and engaging for healthcare professionals.
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Cervical Screening Interval Change
- From 1 July 2025, screening invitations in England move to five-yearly HPV-based screening for ages 25–64 after a negative HPV test.
- Those with positive HPV get earlier follow-up or colposcopy and people with HIV are offered annual screening.
HPV-First Testing Pathway
- All cervical samples are initially tested for HPV with reflex cytology for HPV-positive samples.
- Persistent HPV positivity leads to colposcopy regardless of cytology, and cytology-negative HPV-positive cases get 12-month recall.
Why Longer Intervals Are Safe
- Randomised and pilot data show a negative HPV test provides longer reassurance than negative cytology.
- Trials support five-year intervals after negative HPV, though initial trials lacked younger women under 29.