Cervical Cancer Screening & Vaccination

Cervical cancer is not hereditary. It is mainly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). In general, once a person is infected by HPV, cervical intraepithelial squamous cell will change into a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1), two (CIN2) and three (CIN3), and finally become cervical cancer.

Men and women are infected with HPV virus
HPV infection is such a very common situation that both women and men have the opportunity to HPV infection. Beginning from the initial sexual contact, risk already exists. HPV is not only sexually transmitted; genital skin contact alone can be already infected. Having multiple sexual partners can also increase the risk of infection. Men also have the opportunity HPV infection although they will not suffer from cervical cancer. However, if they are infected with high-risk HPV virus, there is an opportunity to cause anal cancer. Besides, men infected with low-risk HPV types 6 and 11 could cause genital warts, commonly known as cauliflower.

Injection of the HPV vaccine can effectively prevent cervical cancer vaccine vaccination. The registered age of women in Hong Kong being vaccinated has increased to nine years or above, while the registered age of men is 9-26 years old. Although the vaccine fails to treat the infected virus, it can prevent further infection in the future. For women who have been affected by HPV infection after vaccination, they can still prevent HPV infection, which minimize the risk of persistent infection evolved into cervical cancer.

Cervical (Pap) smears

Cervical Cancer Prevention HPV Vaccination + Pap Test Double protection, Protect one’s whole life

People who had a sex life need to take Pap smears test. When cervical cell changes, no symptoms, discomfort or pain is resulted, so you must take an appropriate treatment as early as possible before cancer is developed.

Age/Age group	Number of checking
Women age 25 to 64 who have had sexual experiences	Have regular cervical cells (Pap) smear test
Women aged 65 years or older who have had sexual experiences	Consult their doctor about whether you need to test
Woen who are postmenopausal for many years without sex or do a ligation	Consult their doctor about whether you need to test
Women with weak immune system including: conducted organ transplantation, chemotherapy, steroid therapy or autoimmune disease (such as systemic lupus erythema)	Must undergo an annual cervical cytoloy (Pap)
Women who never had sex, or have full-hysterectomy	No