Be Aware of Cervical Cancer
While busy with family and work, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Everyone deserves time to look after their well-being. Regular cervical cancer screening is an important step to protect your health. Taking care of yourself starts with regular screening.
Cervical cancer is preventable.
Research shows that most cervical cancer cases are caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted primarily through sexual contact. Most people can recover completely after infection, but a small portion experience persistent infection, which long-term cellular stimulation, combined with other carcinogenic factors, can easily lead to cervical cancer. Therefore, preventing HPV infection and early detection effectively prevent cervical cancer.
Government provides free cervical cancer screening.
Cervical cancer is mostly related to HPV infection. Although most infected individuals clear the virus, while a minority develop persistent infection that can progress to precancerous lesions and eventually cervical cancer, usually over 10-20 years. Regular screening is thus very important. International studies show that having a Pap smear once every three years can reduce cervical cancer incidence by 60-90%!
Women with sexual experience are advised to have at least one Pap smear every three years, especially those who marry young, have had multiple childbirths or have multiple sexual partners. It is a misconception that screening becomes unnecessary after menopause or reduced sexual activity. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s “LGBT+ Medical Care Reference Guidelines,” Pap smear screening is equally important for lesbian and bisexual women because HPV can be transmitted between female sexual partners. Moreover, lesbian women who have had male sexual partners should continue regular screening.
Since 2025, the government has offered free Pap smears every three years for women aged 25 to 29 and annually for women aged 30 and above, along with HPV testing at ages 35, 45, and 65.
Six minutes for lifetime protection: cervical cancer screening is easy.
A Pap smear involves a healthcare professional gently collecting cells from the cervix and upper vagina using a spatula and brush. The collected specimen is then stained and examined in the laboratory. It's a simple, reliable, and painless test. HPV testing is done similarly by collecting a small sample of exfoliated epithelial cells from the cervix for laboratory analysis.
Before screening, individuals should avoid vaginal douching, tub bathing, vaginal suppositories, sexual intercourse the night before, and menstruation. Bring your National Health Insurance(NHI) card and ID card when visiting an NHI-contracted medical facility.
Effective cervical cancer treatment.
Pap smear results help physicians determine whether further diagnostic procedures are necessary. If abnormal cellular changes are suspected, a biopsy is recommended. Most precancerous conditions require only minor outpatient surgery for cure. If cervical cancer is diagnosed early, especially carcinoma in situ (with nearly 100% cure rate), timely treatment yields very favorable outcomes.
Do not ignore abnormal symptoms.
The development of cervical cancer is a long-term process and in its early often stage lacks obvious symptoms, so it is easily overlooked. If you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding (including post-coital bleeding, bleeding between menstrual periods, or post-menopausal bleeding) or abnormal vaginal discharge (especially discharge with odor or blood), please immediately consult a physician for further evaluation.
Prevention is easy!
Currently, there is no medication that can treat human papillomavirus (HPV) infection; however, an effective vaccine is available to prevent infection. Since December 2018, the Health Promotion Administration has provided free HPV vaccination for junior high school girls. Starting from September 2025, public funding has been expanded to include junior high school boys as well.
In addition, practicing safe sex is an important method to protect yourself from infection. It is recommended to use condoms correctly and consistently to reduce the risk of HPV infection. At the same time, regular cervical cancer screening through Pap smears remains a crucial measure in safeguarding women's health.