Cervical cytology screening for sexually-active teenagers

Our aim was to determine the value of cervical cytology for sexually-active teenagers attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics. This is a retrospective review of 57,093 women who had cervical cytology reported at the Royal Bolton Hospital (RBH) during the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1996. The results were subdivided into 2 age groups; < or = 19 years and > or = 20 years. Cervical cytology abnormalities within each age group were analysed and compared with the national figures for cervical cytology screening. The results were also subdivided according to their source of referral; general practitioners (GP), GUM and gynaecology. The data from each group were analysed in the same manner as before. The results of the cervical cytology screening from the RBH for major cytological abnormalities (moderate dyskaryosis and above), for the 2 age groups, were comparable and not significantly different (2.1% for each age group, P=0.909) and these figures were within the range of the national figures for cervical cytology screening (1.1%-3.4%). Subdivision of the data by source of referral demonstrated that the percentage of major abnormalities in smears performed at GUM clinics was higher than the national figure for all age groups (41/1000 for the younger age group and 37/1000 for the older age group, 12/1000 for the national figures). In conclusion, cervical cytology screening should be offered to sexually-active teenagers attending GUM clinics.