“Cervical Cancer Prevention: Importance of Annual Pap Smears for Women Over 30”

The National Health Service provides women over the age of 30 with a free annual Pap smear to help prevent cervical cancer. (Provided by Miao County Government)

[The Epoch Times, April 14, 2023](Reported by Epoch Times reporter Chen Wenmin, Miaoli, Taiwan) 48-year-old Ms. Chen found a mild abnormality in the first grade of her pap smear two years ago, and her HPV human papillomavirus test was also negative. It was positive, so regular smear follow-up was done in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic every 3-6 months.

In the latest follow-up examination, it was found that her abnormality index had risen to the second grade. Due to the merger of uterine fibroids, she underwent laparoscopic minimally invasive total hysterectomy on the advice of the doctor. The biopsy report showed that it was carcinoma in situ of the cervix combined with linear body invasion. Fortunately, it was treated early, otherwise it would develop into cervical cancer!

Liu Rongqi, Director of the Reproductive Center of Daqian General Hospital and an obstetrician and gynecologist, said that when a woman undergoes a Pap smear, if there is abnormality in the smear, it means that the cervical cells have dysplasia, which is pre-cancer. , Level 3. About 10%-18% of the first and second grades will progress to the third grade, which is equivalent to carcinoma in situ. At this time, there is a 10%-40% cancer incidence, so surgical treatment is necessary.

More than 90% of cervical cancers are caused by infection with HPV human papillomavirus, which causes abnormal cell growth and turns into cancer. However, it is very common for women who have sex to be infected with HPV human papillomavirus. Generally, most of them will recover on their own after infection, and only a small part will progress to cervical precancerous lesions or even cervical cancer.

Therefore, director Liu Rongqi suggested that when abnormalities are found in the cervical smear, HPV human papillomavirus should be further checked; if there are abnormalities in the continuous smear, surgery should be considered to prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer as early as possible. . In addition to regular Pap smears, safe sex and HPV vaccination are also important. If you take good health protection, you can prevent cervical cancer from finding your upper body.

Editor in charge: Wang Yue