Specialty: Gynaecology
Age group: Adult
Immediately contact the gynaecology registrar to arrange an urgent gynaecological assessment for:
- Visible suspicious cervical mass.
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- Positive Human papillomavirus, types 16 or 18 or both detected
- Positive Human papillomavirus detected (but not types 16 or 18) and either:
- possible or confirmed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or any glandular abnormality
- gynaecology assessment recommended by cytology service
- Human papillomavirus, (not 16/18) with negative or possible or confirmed low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion with either:
- persistent across two tests (index test with a 12-months repeat) if the patient has any of the following:
- unscreened or overdue for screening by at least 2 years at the time of the index test
- identifies as Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander
- is 50 years or older
- persistent across three tests (index test, 12-months repeat, and 24-months repeat)
- persistent across two tests (index test with a 12-months repeat) if the patient has any of the following:
- People aged between 70 and 74 years of age, a history of immunosuppression or diethylstilbesterol (DES) exposure and human papillomavirus (any type) detected
- Colposcopy assessment recommended by cytology service.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Most recent human papillomavirus (HPV) and liquid-based cytology (LBC) co-test result or cervical screening test results
- History of any abnormal bleeding or abnormal change
- If the person has an immune-deficiency or is immunosuppressed
- If the person is pregnant.
Provide if available
- If the person identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- History of exposure to diethylstilbesterol (DES)
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Cervical screening test results may be provided from either self-collected or clinician collected samples.
Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
In line with the cervical screening pathway:
- human papillomavirus is not detected
- when there is unsatisfactory liquid-based cytology (LBC) or human papillomavirus (HPV) results
- possible, or confirmed, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions where human papillomavirus is not detected.
Reviewed 30 May 2025