The New Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening in Low Risk Iranian Women

The incidence rate of cervical cancer is lower in Iran compare to other countries; however، because of higher risk of cervical cancer deaths in this region، a cervical cancer screening program seems to be required. The aim of this study was to provide an organized approach to prevention and control of cervical cancer which could be feasible in other Muslim societies. We conducted a systematic review of previous studies related to cervical cancer in Iran and reviewing the foreign country''s guidelines. 190 articles about cervical cancer in Iran from 1971 to 2013 were studied. 13 articles were related to the data that we needed for developing the recommendation questions. We also reviewed the guidelines of World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)، GLOBOCON report، Iran Ministry of Health cancer registry report and 8 available foreign developed countries guidelines. Documents and papers with highest level and consistent with the aims of this review were selected and the Iran cervical cancer screening program was conducted by using the practical guideline development cycle. A questionnaire that included questions which have been answered in the guideline was designed. Expert panel make a decision for the necessity of cervical cancer screening program for Iran. We recommended an organized screening program with cytologic evaluation (Pap smear) that would be start at age 30، continued for every 5 years. The age for ending the screening is 69 years. There is no need to do screening for pregnant women and women who had hysterectomy. Organized cervical cancer screening is a necessity for Iran، because we could not ignore more than 500-900 new cases with invasive cervical cancer that have been diagnosed every year in Iran.