The RCOG has published two New Scientific Advisory Commitee Opinion Papers.
Progress in Cervical Screening sets out the challenges and developments in this rapidly changing field. Cervical cancer prevention has been based on cytology screening for 50 years but, with the advent of vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV), the evolving strategy is becoming primary prevention combined with screening. Technological developments including HPV testing and automation in cytology offer the potential of greater cost-effectiveness, which needs to be carefully evaluated.
Obstetric Impact of Treatment for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia discusses how, where a cervical screening programme has been successfully applied, the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer has significantly decreased. However, there is increasing evidence that resultant excisional procedures for treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) are associated with preterm delivery and might be associated with perinatal mortality.
