Celibate women
Nowadays, screening drops with age in women, especially after menopause. This is especially true for women who are no longer sexually active. Another preconceived notion to be addressed is that women who are no longer sexually active no longer need screening. But this concept completely goes against the natural history of HPV infection. “There are years, at least 5, between infection and the development of precancerous lesions. There is a further 5 years between a precancerous lesion and cancer,” said Dr. Maruani.
A woman could still be at risk even 20 years after contracting HPV. Approximately 80% of women are exposed to HPV, and 5%-10% have a persistent infection that could lead to the development of precancerous lesions.
“So, a woman who is no longer sexually active can’t stop participating in cervical screening, especially since there aren’t any symptoms until a fairly advanced stage of cancer.” No longer having sex does not mean that screening can be stopped.
What treatment is appropriate for partners of a woman who is no longer sexually active? None. During the press conference, the specialists agreed that a positive HPV test would be of importance to her partner. Even so, they recalled that the infection would generally be an old one and that the woman’s partner (whether male or female) would therefore have probably already been exposed to it. Patients should also be reminded that, in the past, cytology testing did not look for HPV, so the virus could already have been there. According to these specialists, you don’t need to change your sexual habits, just continue to monitor yourself.
This article was translated from the Medscape French edition and a version first appeared on Medscape.com.