The rates of chlamydia screening have significantly declined as a result of not performing routine cervical cancer screening in young women, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. Uncoupling screening for sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer screening is necessary, the authors say, to improve rates of chlamydia testing. The highest prevalence of chlamydia infection in the United States is among young adults aged 15 to 24 years, but cervical cancer screenings became "more restrictive" in women in 2009 following the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ recommendation that cervical cancer screening should begin at age 21 years, rather than screening three years after first sexual intercourse or by age 21, whichever occurred first. In the current study, females (aged 15 to 21 years) who made visits to five family medicine ambulatory clinics at the University of Michigan were identified. Rates of chlamydia screening were compared between eligible groups of women who made visits between January 1, 2008 and February 28, 2009 (before the guideline change; n= 1,626) and women who made visits between January 1, 2011 and February 28, 2012 (after the guideline change; n=1,846). Based on diagnostic codes, visits were […]