NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH GEORGIAN BAY ONTARIO HEALTH TEAM
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As of March 2025, Ontario has changed its cervical cancer screening to improve test accuracy and reduce frequency of screenings. In Canada, it is estimate that 1,600 people a year will be diagnosed with cervical cancer, however, it can often be prevented with regular screening, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and follow up care.
Previously, cervical cancer screening guidelines in Ontario recommended anyone with a cervix age 21 to 70 receive a Papanicolaou test, also know as a Pap test, every three years. Pap tests are a type of cytology test where a sample of cells is collected from the cervix and examined under a microscope to identify abnormal cells that may be pre-cancerous or cancerous. In Ontario, Pap tests will now be replaced with high-risk HPV tests and the recommended time between screening will increase from 3 years to 5 years for most individuals. Additionally, screening will now start at age 25 to avoid over screening younger people with a low risk of cervical cancer.
Despite changes to the test type and screening frequency, the screening process will remain the same. A doctor, nurse practitioner, or midwife will collect cells from the cervix using a speculum and a swab. The cells will be sent to a laboratory where they will be tested for high-risk strains of HPV know to cause cervical cancer. If the cells test positive for high-risk HPV, the same sample of cells will undergo cytology testing to check for abnormalities and the patient will need to be tested again in 2 years.
"We are so excited that Ontario has changed to offering a high-risk HPV test instead of the previous pap test for cervical cancer screening. HPV testing is a much more accurate test for detecting people at risk for developing pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix. It still involves a pelvic exam, but when you have a negative test, we can now be confident to do tests every 5 years instead of 3 years,” says Dr. Jennifer Tomas, a Collingwood Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and the Cervical Screening and Colposcopy lead for North Simcoe Muskoka. “This is an exciting moment for women's health!".
In South Georgian Bay, you can receive a cervical cancer screening test by booking an appointment with your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
If you do not have a local family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can book an appointment at the South Georgian Bay Cervical Cancer Screening Clinic.
This clinic is hosted semi-annually by the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team and the next clinic is being held by appointment only on March 25, 2025 and April 1, 2025 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Appointments for the clinic can be booked on the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team website: http://www.southgeorgianbayoht.ca/cervical-cancer-screening-clinics-2/ or by dialing 2-1-1 (24/7 bilingual helpline) for assistance with booking an online appointment. Additional clinics may be added at future dates based on demand.
To learn more about cervical cancer screening in Ontario, please visit https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/cervical/screening
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