Cervical cancer screening has been “deeply rooted” in women’s hearts in big cities, and is gradually being understood and recognized in small places. If you take a look at your own medical checkup package or think back to your experience of going to the obstetrics and gynecology department, most of them should include cervical cancer screening (if you haven’t done it yet, hurry up and do it!) Do you know what a good screening test is? However, do you know what is a good screening method, how old you should start screening, and do you need to be screened every year? 1. Which is the best screening method? The cervical smear method (Pap smear) used to be used, although cheap, but the low accuracy has been basically eliminated. Nowadays, the mainstream screening methods are TCT and HPV test, while TCT has been carried out in second-tier and even third-tier cities, and HPV test can only be carried out in big cities. If it is not available in your area, then traditional Pap smear is an option. 2. When should I start screening? It is not recommended to do cervical cancer screening when you are younger than 21 years old because the incidence of cervical cancer and its precancerous lesions is very low at this age, so screening is not very meaningful, and screening can be started after 21 years old. 3.How to choose the screening method? (1) Women aged 21-29 only need TCT and do not need HPV testing because the rate of HPV infection is high at this age, but it is mostly a transient infection. In contrast, cervical cancer requires persistent infection with high-risk HPV types to occur. (2) Women aged 30-65 should opt for combined TCT+HPV testing. HPV testing alone is not recommended, but TCT alone is possible. (3) Women older than 65 years of age, if previous screenings were normal, then continued screening is not recommended. 4. Do I need to be screened every year? If TCT+HPV is normal, screening can be done once every 5 years (preferred). If TCT is the only condition, or only TCT is needed (e.g. 21-29 years old), screening can be done once every 3 years (second choice). Please note that the above screening intervals are based on normal results; if there is an abnormal result in the screening, such as an abnormal TCT+HPV, please do not wait for 5 years and consult your doctor.