Coleta de preventivo fora da faixa etária alvo: Uma análise crítica

This article sought to critically analyze the cervical cytopathological examinations performed outside the recommended age range (25 to 64 years) in Brazil, between 2015 and 2025. Using data from SISCAN/DATASUS in a quantitative and critical-dialectical approach, it was found that 17.9% of the screenings occurred outside the target age group, totaling over 12 million smear collections and an estimated cost exceeding BRL 177 million. In addition to the financial impact, an overburdening of healthcare services, staff diversion, and the disorganization of care pathways were observed, thereby reducing screening effectiveness. From a bioethical perspective, female autonomy, medicalization, and the biopsychosocial repercussions of abnormal results are discussed. The research demonstrates that opportunistic screening compromises the rationality of care and the foundational principles of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). It is concluded that strengthening organized screening, ensuring the rational allocation of resources, and promoting informed decision-making are essential to transforming this preventive examination into an ethical and emancipatory practice.