Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical cancer screening finds pre-cancer or early cancer of the cervix before it causes any symptoms. It is one of the most effective screening programmes in medicine — cervical cancer rates drop dramatically where women are screened. India's cervical cancer burden is one of the highest in the world, and uptake of screening remains low.

Main tests

• HPV DNA test — the most sensitive; preferred in newer programmes; once every 5 years if negative, from age 30.
• Pap smear (cytology) — every 3 years from age 21-25 or 30.
• Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) — simple, low-cost; widely used in community programmes; effective when repeat/treatment pathway is in place.
• Co-testing (HPV + Pap) — every 5 years; higher cost.

Who should be screened

• Women 30-65 — the highest-yield window in India.
• Women 25-30 may be screened if starting younger; less benefit under 25.
• Women 65+ with regular prior negative screens may stop; if never screened, screening is still worthwhile.
• HPV-vaccinated women still need screening — vaccine doesn't cover all high-risk HPV types.
• After total hysterectomy for non-cancerous reasons, screening can often stop — ask your gynaecologist.

What to expect

• A brief pelvic examination by a trained Health Expert.
• A small sample of cells scraped or brushed from the cervix.
• Discomfort, not pain; takes 2-3 minutes.
• Results within days (HPV/Pap) or immediately (VIA).
• Abnormal screen is not cancer — it means further examination (colposcopy) is needed; treatable pre-cancerous changes are found in most.
• Treatment of pre-cancer is simple — cryotherapy, LEEP, or cold-coagulation — often in a single clinic visit.

Why women skip screening — and what helps

• Fear, embarrassment — a female Health Expert, a sensitive approach, and clear explanation help.
• Lack of awareness — community health workers (ASHA/ANM) can refer.
• Time, transport — many programmes run mobile screening camps.
• Cost — government facilities provide free screening; self-sample HPV testing (a simple swab a woman takes herself) is expanding access.
• Family pressure, "I'm fine" — the whole point of screening is that you feel fine. The test is for when you have no symptoms.

A 10-minute visit every few years prevents one of the deadliest cancers in Indian women. Combined with HPV vaccination in girls, India's cervical cancer burden can be substantially reduced in a generation.