Researchers have recently revealed that the number of cervical cancer deaths can be effectively pulled back if a different screening test is used to begin with, instead of smear tests, in women who are over 35.

After extensive study, researchers have been able to conclude that if women are screened for the presence of human papillomavirus, which is considered to be the root of cervical cancer, it would help diagnose the condition while it is still in its preliminary stages.

Italian data collected from 95,000 women has revealed that those who were screened for HPV ended up developing fewer cancers than those who had gone in for pap smears.

Authors, however, have stressed that this strategy is not effective for women who are younger than 35 years of age.

"Our data support the use of stand-alone HPV testing as the primary screening test. Picking up the cancers earlier would save lives", said study leader Dr. Guglielmo Ronco from the Centre for Cancer Prevention in Turin.

Details of the new research have been published in the journal The Lancet Oncology.