Cervical cancer is highly preventable when detected early through routine screenings and vaccinations.¹

As trusted health care professionals, providers are essential in guiding patients through screening decisions, educating them about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and ensuring equal access to preventive care.

Screening recommendations

Cervical cancer screening has dramatically reduced the burden of disease in the United States. Over the past 40 years, death rates have dropped by 70 percent, largely due to the widespread use of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test.¹

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend the following age-specific screening guidelines:

• Aged 21–29:  Perform Pap test every three years.
• Aged 30–65:  Use one of these options:
  • Pap test every three years.
  • HPV test every five years.
  • Co-test (Pap test + HPV test) every five years.
• Aged 66+:      Stop screening if there’s a history of adequate prior screenings and no high risk.^1,2

It’s important to assess individual risk factors, such as immunosuppression and prior abnormal results, as well as emphasize to patients the importance of regular screening, even if they are asymptomatic.

Prevention through HPV vaccination

HPV is responsible for 99.7 percent of cervical cancer cases, yet only 68 percent of the U.S. population is aware of the virus and its link to cancer.³ Importantly, unlike many other cancers, cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination.

The HPV vaccine not only protects against cervical cancer, but it helps prevent other HPV-related cancers, including those of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis, and throat. It also protects against genital warts.⁵ Early vaccination has been shown to reduce cervical precancers by 40 percent and the overall risk of developing cervical cancer by more than 80 percent.³

CDC vaccination recommendations

The CDC recommends that HPV vaccinations start at ages 11–12, with the option to begin as early as age 9, and catch-up vaccination available through age 26.³  For those aged 27–45, vaccination may be considered based on individual risk factors and shared decision-making.⁴

For additional information and resources regarding the HPV vaccine, visit The power of the provider to drive HPV vaccine acceptance (Provider Newsroom).

Talking with your patients

Discussing cervical cancer prevention, including screenings and HPV vaccinations, can be sensitive. Providers can build trust and understanding by:

• Normalizing the process: Present screenings and vaccinations as routine components of preventive health care.

• Clarifying the purpose: Explain that screenings detect precancerous changes before they become cancer, while the HPV vaccination prevents infections that cause most cervical cancers.

• Addressing stigma: Use neutral, nonjudgmental language when discussing HPV. Reassure patients that HPV is common and that vaccination is a proactive step toward cancer prevention.

• Using visuals and handouts: Provide clear educational materials to enhance patient understanding of anatomy, procedures, and vaccination benefits.

By facilitating discussion about both screening and vaccination, providers can empower patients to take charge of their health and contribute to the broader goal of eradicating cervical cancer.

Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®)⁷ measures

Each year, Cigna Healthcare^® collects data for HEDIS by requesting medical records from providers. HEDIS is an industry-wide method to help compare and assess a health plan’s performance in a variety of areas, including cervical cancer. 

HEDIS measures for cervical cancer screening assess the percentage of women aged 21‒64 who were screened for cervical cancer using one of the following criteria:⁸

• Aged 21‒64: Cervical cytology performed within the last three years.
• Aged 30‒64: Cervical high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing performed within the last five years.
• Aged 30‒64: Cervical cytology/hrHPV co-testing performed within the last five years.

Cigna Healthcare coverage

Routine screenings and vaccinations are typically covered at no cost when administered at in-network locations, which your patients can find by logging in to myCigna.com.

You can learn more about our coverage policies related to vaccinations in the Preventive Care Services Coverage Policy (A004).

1 Screening for Cervical Cancer.

2 Recommendation: Cervical Cancer: Screening.

3 Eliminating Cervical Cancer: the Impact of Screening and Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination.

4 Shared Clinical Decision-Making: HPV Vaccination for Adults Aged 27-45 Years.

5 Cancers Linked with HPV Each Year.

6 HPV‒Associated Cancers and Precancers.

7 HEDIS^® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

8 White Paper ‒ What is the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set.