In 2020, the American Cancer Society released the updated Cervical Cancer Screening Guideline supporting the transition to primary HPV screening as the preferred method for cervical cancer screening. Primary HPV screening every 5 years has been shown to be a more effective approach to cervical cancer screening, but the transition from less effective options has been slow. In the fall of 2021, the American Cancer Society’s Primary HPV Screening Initiative set out to support the transition to primary HPV screening as the dominant screening approach in the United States. With nearly 100 expert volunteers on six workgroups and a Steering Committee, this initiative goes beyond guideline development and into guideline implementation.

The Initiative fills a key implementation gap in cervical cancer screening and management in the U.S. and is a crucial step in successful primary HPV screening adoption and guideline alignment across organizations. Achieving these objectives will provide a critical infrastructure to support continuing advancements in cervical cancer prevention, early detection, and elimination in the coming years.