The Ministry of Health, Consumption and the Interior has joined for another year the commemoration of the World Cervical Cancer Day tomorrow Sunday, March 26, recalling the need to raise awareness about the importance of its prevention, by promoting healthy lifestyle habits and early vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV); as well as having an early diagnosis.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the National Institute of Health Management (INGESA) and mutual societies, has been carrying out awareness-raising work for two years to promote cervical cancer screening, which has resulted in various activities and informative talks aimed at by the Epidemiological Surveillance Service to groups of women, both at the Women’s Advisory Center and at the Vicedo Martínez association premises. In 2022, 3,524 personalized invitation letters were also sent to women between the ages of 35 and 40 to participate in the cervical cancer screening program. During 2023 these letters will be sent to women between the ages of 41 and 46 who have not had an HPV test.
In addition, the Vaccination service of the Ministry is offering informative talks for families about the Vaccination Calendar and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for boys and girls to Primary Education centers. Until now, this vaccine was in the vaccine schedule only for girls, extending the administration to boys who turn 12 in 2023, following the same indication as for girls. The first of these activities took place at the CEIP Juan Morejón last week and with notable assistance from mothers and fathers.
These talks are aimed at informing families about the latest vaccine additions to the Ceuta calendar, as well as raising awareness about the importance of vaccines and the benefits achieved through vaccination.
Cervical cancer in data
Every year 2,500 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in Spain, which is the third highest incidence in women, and some 500,000 worldwide. It is a disease that increasingly affects a greater number of women, but that it can be cured when it is found and treated in its early stages.
Almost 100% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and according to statistics, 80% of sexually active people are infected with HPV at some point in their lives.
Thanks to advances in research, early diagnosis methods and preventive treatments such as vaccines have been developed.
Factors that increase the risk of HPV infection
-Early age of beginning relationships.
-Sexual promiscuity.
-Multiparity and first pregnancy at an early age.
-Tobacco.
-Prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives.
-The non-use of condoms.
-Unhealthy diet.
-Not being vaccinated against HPV.
How to prevent it
-Vaccination: It is included in the Ceuta vaccination calendar for 12-year-old boys and girls.
-Habits of healthy life.
-Avoid tobacco.
-Use barrier methods during sexual intercourse.
-Participating in the cervical cancer screening program.
Who can participate in the cervical cancer screening program?
-Women between the ages of 25 and 34, by performing a cytology every three years.
-Women between the ages of 35 and 65, by performing a Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) detection test every 5 years.
