Reproductive Health Needs of HIV Positive Women 

Studies show that HIV-positive women have HPV DNA detected in their genital tracts 2-5 times more often than women who are HIV-negative. HPV infections are less likely to regress in HIV-positive women, and women with HIV are up to five times more likely to develop cervical abnormalities and are at much greater risk of developing the immediate precursor lesion to cervical
cancer.
 
Research has documented that as the immune system becomes more compromised, both high-risk HPV infection and the risk of cervical cancer increase. A study published in October 2010 showed that HPV DNA screening and treatment reduces the risk of developing precancerous cervical lesions by 80 percent
in HIV-positive women. What's more, the reduction in lesions held up over three years of follow-up.

In the next few weeks, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) will make recommendations for cervical cancer screening. Under the Affordable Care Act, services ranked A or B are available without cost sharing. One concern is what the USPSTF will recommend regarding HPV DNA co-testing and use of liquid based Pap testing. The Task Force rated these tests "I" for insufficient evidence in 2003. However, all major medical societies recommend screening with these state of the art technologies. Low-income women will bear the burden of a C or an I recommendation.
 
The USPSTF has published the analysis and evidence review documents that are being used to establish the recommendations for cervical cancer screening. These documents provide an insight into the issues being considered by the Task Force. You will find that the evidence is framed in a manner that makes it unclear whether an A/B, C or I recommendation is likely.  The recommendations will be published for public comment.