Health PEI is looking closely at new recommendations published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal that suggest women wait until they're 25 before getting their first pap test.

The recommendations apply even for sexually active women.

The current recommendation on P.E.I. is women start getting pap tests at 18, or earlier if they've been sexually active. "This isn't telling people not to do it necessarily. It's just about when you really have to start doing it and when you have to regularly start doing it," said Marla Delaney, provincial cervical screening co-ordinator for Health PEI.

"If there's concerns of any family history that might be there or any symptoms somebody may have, they definitely should be getting screened."

Delaney said Health PEI was waiting for these national guidelines before introducing new policies on the Island. The province will study the findings and look at what other provinces are doing.

New policies are expected to be adopted on P.E.I. this fall.

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