The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) connecting the body of the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Cancer of the cervix is the most common cancer of the woman's reproductive system and is the sixth most common cancer in women in Singapore. 

Cervical cancer is the only female cancer that we can prevent as it has a very effective screening tool in addition to the cervical cancer vaccine.

The current national cervical cancer screening guideline recommends women to go for regular cervical cancer screening as this will allow for the detection of abnormal pre-cancer cells that can be easily and effectively treated before cancerous changes happens.

All women who have ever been sexually active between 25 and 69 years old are recommended to go for cervical cancer screening. Current national cervical cancer screening recommends:

• Women between 25 and 29 years old: Pap smear every 3 years
• Women between 30 and 69 years old: HPV test every 5 years.

The HPV vaccine is licensed in Singapore to both boys and girls between 9 to 26 years old. It protects women from getting infected by cancer-related HPV strains if they are exposed in future, similar to getting the flu vaccine to prevent catching the flu.

The HPV vaccine does not protect from all cancer-causing HPV infections but will protect up to 90% of cervical cancer worldwide.

Women that go for regular screening (to detect current cancer-causing HPV infections) and has taken the HPV vaccine (to protect form future cancer-causing HPV infections), can be reassured that their risks of getting cervical cancer in future are very low. 

For more information about Cervical Cancer, click here.