INUVIK - Women won't need to undergo Pap smear tests as frequently under new guidelines introduced by the Department of Health and Social Services last week.

"The new guidelines (were) written to help women avoid unnecessary Pap smears and unnecessary colposcopy examinations," said Dr. Andrew Kotaska, clinical director of obstetrics at Stanton Territorial Hospital and the author of the new guidelines.

Dr. Andrew Kotaska, clinical director of obstetrics at Stanton Territorial Hospital, authored new cervical cancer screening recommendations for the Department of Health and Social Services. - Photo courtesy of Dorothy Westerman

"This will lessen the inconvenience to (women) and the cost to the health care system."

He said cervical cancer, caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), grows at a slow rate and thus, does not needed to be tested at the rate at has been occurring in the NWT.

Since the introduction of Pap smear screening in Canada in the 1960s, the occurrence of cervical cancer has decreased by 80 per cent. The NWT has the highest Pap smear coverage rate in Canada.

According to the new guidelines, women should now start cervical cancer screening at the age of 21, or three years after their first sexual contact.

Prior to this, women were recommended to have their first screening at the age they first became sexually active.

The guidelines also call for Pap smears to be conducted only once every two years instead of every year, providing the patient hasn't been experiencing any abnormalities.

According to Kotaska, there were approximately 26,000 Pap smears conducted in the NWT and Nunavut last year.

"If the guidelines are followed closely, I would expect a reduction of up to half the overall volume of Pap smears," said Kotaska.

"Mostly because women with normal Paps will only need to go every two years instead of annually.

"I spend a significant amount of my time performing colposcopy, which is inconvenient and uncomfortable for women."

A colposcopy is a medical diagnostic procedure to examine the cervix and the tissues of the vagina and vulva to detect precancerous lesions.

"HPV is the main risk factor for developing cervical cancer and it can be spread through any sexual activity," said Kotaska.

The virus is a sexually-transmitted infection and can cause cancer of the cervix, abnormal cervical cells, abnormal vulva cells and genital warts.

A vaccine against certain strains of HPV is available in the NWT for girls in Grade 4, 5 or 6. Kotaska recommends parents ensure their daughters are vaccinated with the HPV vaccine before they become sexually active.

"The vaccine is safe and prevents both abnormal Pap smears and cervical cancer," he said.