US cervical cancer screening trends and disparities

Efforts to improve cervical cancer screening in the United States have focused on personalized patient outreach and evolving clinical guidelines. Healthcare institutions, such as Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, have utilized health records and various communication methods—including phone calls, text messages, and patient portals—to identify and contact overdue patients.

Clinical discussions have centered on optimal screening approaches, particularly for healthy young women. While organizations like the American Cancer Society generally favor primary HPV testing, experts continue to debate the timing of screenings and the effectiveness of self-collected HPV testing.

Recent data published in JAMA Network Open indicates that while overall screening rates increased between 2019 and 2024, significant regional and demographic disparities remain. Geographically, the South and West recorded lower annual screening rates compared to the Midwest and Northeast.

Demographically, Hispanic patients saw the largest increase in uptake, whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations consistently recorded the lowest levels. These developments coincide with expanding screening options, including new federal guidelines for self-collected HPV tests and the 2025 FDA clearance of the first at-home collection kit.