A rising number of women have never been screened for cervical cancer. Here are the risks

For women ages 30 to 65, it recommends one of three options: a Pap test every three years, testing for high-risk HPV every five years, or both tests together every five years.

The authors make the point that establishing screening among young adults can also set the pattern for preventive care later in life, when cervical cancer risk is higher.

Screening can detect precancerous changes so they can be treated before cancer develops, but the proportion of women ages 30 to 65 who had never been screened has also increased.