Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) is working with the Ministry of Heath to implement HPV testing in cervical screening in Ontario. Until then, primary care providers should continue to use cytology-based screening. Recommendations from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care and recent evidence support a higher age of initiation for cervical screening (with cytology or HPV testing).
Primary care providers are now encouraged to initiate cytology-based screening at
age 25 for those who are or have ever been sexually active, with one exception: people who are immunocompromised and are or have ever been sexually active can continue to start screening at age 21. Please note, primary care cancer screening tools and resources are not yet aligned with this guidance and will be updated with HPV implementation.
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