Should women between the ages of 25 and 30 get tested for HPV?

Objectives: The aim of this study is to discuss whether performing the human papillomavirus test on women aged 25-30 in Turkey has any effect on preventing cervical cancer. It is aimed to reevaluate the screening program. Methods: A total of 400 patients between the ages of 25-30 who had the Papanicolaou smear and the human papillomavirus test were included in our study. Pap smear and the human papillomavirus test were performed again on the patients with a positive human papillomavirus test for high-risk types in accordance with the screening program. Demographical and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The incidence of human papillomavirus test positivity with a high risk among patients aged 25-30, regression, and persistence ratios were calculated. Results: The incidence of human papillomavirus test positivity with a high risk among patients aged 25 to 30 was found to be 7%. Human papillomavirus persistence ratio was 17.6% and the regression ratio was 82.4%. Among patients with a positive high-risk human papillomavirus test between the ages of 25 and 30, human papillomavirus 16 was found in 47.1% of the patients. For one of our patients with a persistent human papillomavirus 16 positivity, conization was performed after the cervical biopsy. Conclusion: We believe that human papillomavirus, which plays an important role in the etiology of cervical cancer, should be screened from the age of 25. This way, we can catch and treat precursor lesions of cervical cancer at earlier ages and lower the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer.