In Focus: Cervical Cancer Prevention
Among all the methods used in the prevention of cervical cancer, the Pap smear is recognized to be the most significant. Invented by Georgios Papanikolaou, the test involves swabbing the cervix to obtain a sample. The Pap smear can detect the presence of malignant cells in the cervix.
A newer test similar to the Pap smear is the HPV test, which detects the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the cervix.
HPV vaccines are now available and recommended for women who are 9 to 25 years old and have not been infected with HPV. Ideally, the vaccine must be given before a female becomes sexually active.
Gardasil and Cervarix, the two brands of vaccines now available in the market, have been shown to provide 100% efficacy in preventing the development of cervical pre-cancers and genital warts. The vaccine is given through a series of three shots over a 6-month period. The second and third doses should be given 2 and 6 months (respectively) after the first dose.