Cervical cancer screening: how countries compare

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Page content last changed: 18 October 2026

Each country bases its guidelines on its own evidence reviews and health system. Age Flags lists them side by side and does not judge between them.

United States

Item	Who it is for	How often / doses	Guideline	Checked
Cervical cytology (Pap test), HPV test, or both together (co-test) Cervical cancer screening	Women; ages 21 to 65	Cervical cytology (smear test) — every 3 years (age 21 and over) · High-risk HPV test alone — every 5 years (age 30 and over) · HPV test together with cervical cytology (co-test) — every 5 years (age 30 and over)	US Preventive Services Task Force · Cervical Cancer: Screening · 2018 USPSTF grade A MyHealthfinder: Get Screened for Cervical Cancer	18 October 2026

England, UK

Item	Who it is for	How often / doses	Guideline	Checked
HPV-only test (with cytology triage if positive) Cervical cancer screening	Women; ages 25 to 64	every 5 years	NHS England · NHS Cervical Screening Programme · 2026 National programme Cervical screening: When you'll be invited	18 October 2026

China

Item	Who it is for	How often / doses	Guideline	Checked
Cervical cytology or HPV-only test Cervical cancer screening	Women; ages 35 to 64	Cervical cytology (smear test) — every 3 years · HPV-only test (with cytology triage if positive) — every 5 years · Includes a gynaecological examination. Priority is given to rural women and urban women on minimum living allowance.	National Health Commission (China) · 宫颈癌筛查工作方案 · 2021 National programme 《宫颈癌筛查工作方案》和《乳腺癌筛查工作方案》文件解读（国家卫生健康委）— 河北省卫生健康委员会网站转载 国家卫生健康委办公厅关于印发宫颈癌筛查工作方案和乳腺癌筛查工作方案的通知（国卫办妇幼函〔2021〕635号）— 河北省卫生健康委员会网站转载	18 October 2026

Japan

Item	Who it is for	How often / doses	Guideline	Checked
Cervical cytology or HPV-only test Cervical cancer screening	Women; age 20 and over	Cervical cytology (smear test) — every 2 years (age 20 and over) · HPV-only test (with cytology triage if positive) — every 5 years (age 30 and over) · From age 30 each municipality offers either cytology or HPV-only testing (the person cannot choose); screening is particularly recommended at ages 20 to 69 with cytology and 30 to 60 with HPV-only testing.	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) · がん予防重点健康教育及びがん検診実施のための指針 · 2025 National guideline がん検診について（国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス） がん予防重点健康教育及びがん検診実施のための指針の一部改正について（令和7年12月24日 通知） The publisher has listed a newer edition, which applies from a later date. Source	18 October 2026

Spain

Item	Who it is for	How often / doses	Guideline	Checked
Cervical cytology (smear test) Cervical cancer screening	Women; ages 25 to 29	every 3 years · Women adequately protected by HPV vaccination may instead start screening at age 30, depending on how far the regional programme has been implemented.	Ministerio de Sanidad (Spain) · Cribado poblacional de cáncer de cérvix (cartera común básica de servicios del SNS; Orden SND/454/2025) · 2025 National programme Real Decreto 1030/2006, de 15 de septiembre, cartera de servicios comunes del SNS — texto consolidado, anexo I apartado 3 (BOE)	18 October 2026
High-risk HPV test alone Cervical cancer screening	Women; ages 30 to 65	every 5 years · A positive HPV test is followed by a triage test; if high risk is ruled out, the HPV test is repeated after one year. Since 2019, regions have had 5 years to start this change and 5 more years to reach close to full coverage, so HPV-based screening may not yet be offered everywhere.	Ministerio de Sanidad (Spain) · Cribado poblacional de cáncer de cérvix (cartera común básica de servicios del SNS; Orden SND/454/2025) · 2025 National programme Real Decreto 1030/2006, de 15 de septiembre, cartera de servicios comunes del SNS — texto consolidado, anexo I apartado 3 (BOE)	18 October 2026

Brazil

Item	Who it is for	How often / doses	Guideline	Checked
High-risk HPV test (cervical cytology where the HPV test is not yet offered) Cervical cancer screening	Women; ages 25 to 64; Has ever been sexually active	High-risk HPV test alone — every 5 years · Cervical cytology (smear test) — every 3 years · The HPV test is now the primary screening test. Cytology (Pap test) is used only where the HPV test is not yet offered, and moves to its longer interval after 2 consecutive normal results a year apart. With the HPV test, routine testing stops after age 60 once the result is negative.	Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Diretrizes Brasileiras para o Rastreamento do Câncer do Colo do Útero: Parte I (teste de DNA-HPV oncogênico) · 2025 National guideline Diretrizes Brasileiras para o Rastreamento do Câncer do Colo do Útero: Parte I — Rastreamento organizado utilizando testes moleculares para detecção de DNA-HPV oncogênico (Portaria Conjunta SAES/SECTICS nº 13/2025)	18 October 2026

Emergency and crisis lines

United States Emergency 911 Emergency services (United States) · Source Crisis line 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (United States) · Available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. · Source

United Kingdom Emergency 999 NHS England · Source Health advice 111 NHS England · Source Crisis line 116 123 Samaritans · Open 24 hours a day. · Source

China Emergency 120 National Health Commission (China) · Source Crisis line 12356 National Health Commission (China) · Each line provides at least 18 hours of service a day under the national notice; hours vary by city. · Source

Japan Emergency 119 Fire and Disaster Management Agency (Japan) · Source Crisis line 0120‑061‑338 #いのちSOS (Lifelink) · Open 24 hours a day, every day (free call). · Source Crisis line 0120‑279‑338 Yorisoi Hotline · Open 24 hours a day (free call). · Source

Spain Emergency 112 Emergency services (Spain) · Source Crisis line 024 Ministerio de Sanidad (Spain) · Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. · Source

Brazil Emergency 192 Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Source Crisis line 188 CVV — Centro de Valorização da Vida · Free, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Brazil. · Source

Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.