Incidence of precancerous cervical lesions decreasing among young women

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a new study published in the journal Cancer, researchers have found that the incidence of high-grade cervical lesions in young women has significantly decreased, but the declines were likely due to reduced screening.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2, 3, and adenocarcinoma in situ (CIN2+) lesions can be monitored as early indicators of the effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.

For the study, researchers identified over 9,000 cases of CIN2+ among patients aged 18 to 39 years in California, Connecticut, New York, and Oregon.

Researchers found that from 2008 to 2012, the rates of CIN2+ significantly decreased among women aged 18 to 20 years in all four states and among 21- to 29-year-old women in Connecticut and New York.

Researchers found that screening rates also declined during that time period, suggesting that the decline in these cervical lesions is most likely due to fewer screenings, but could potentially be an effect of vaccination as well.