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Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
Characterizing Cervical Cancer Screening in the US: Preparing for the Era of Self-Collection
Lisa F Soltani1, Ilana Addis1, Paul Lin1
1From the Department of Internal Medicine, El Rio Community Health Center, Tucson, AZ (LFS); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ (IA); Institute of Health Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (PL); Institute of Health Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (NK); Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University (NK); Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina (NK); Department of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (MCO); Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (APY); Departments of Family Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's and Gender Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (DMH).
Family and Internal Medicine providers perform most cervical cancer screenings in the US, especially for older adults. This contrasts with the shift towards self-screening, highlighting current provider roles in cancer prevention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Gynecology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Cervical cancer screening (CCS) practices are evolving, with a growing trend towards self-screening methods.
- Understanding the current landscape of in-office CCS providers is crucial for assessing healthcare access and future screening strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a baseline distribution of in-office CCS providers by medical specialty.
- To analyze the race/ethnicity and age demographics of individuals undergoing CCS.
- To provide insights into the current delivery of cervical cancer prevention services.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electronic health record data from multiple health systems across 34 states (Truveta) spanning January 2017 to December 2022.
- Included individuals aged 21-65 eligible for CCS, excluding those with hysterectomy (unless history of CIN 2/3), prior gynecological cancer, or post-hysterectomy screening.
- Analyzed CCS and colposcopy rates per eligible patient, categorizing providers by medical specialty.
Main Results:
- Over 2.4 million individuals underwent 3.4 million CCSs, with an average age of 42.9 years.
- Obstetrics & Gynecology (OG) specialists performed less than half of all CCS, decreasing to 31.6% for individuals aged 50-65.
- Family Medicine (FM) and General Internal Medicine (GIM) providers delivered the majority of CCS (61.9%) nationally, and 68.4% for those aged 50-65.
Conclusions:
- Family Medicine and Internal Medicine clinicians are the primary providers of in-office cervical cancer screening in the US.
- These specialties play a critical role in screening older populations (50-65 years) where cervical cancer risk is highest.
- Findings are essential for understanding current screening infrastructure as self-screening gains traction.
