women

Cervical health

To protect yourself from getting cervical cancer, you should:

• have regular Pap tests
• consider vaccination. 

Pap tests - Who should have one?

To prevent cervical cancer, all women should start having regular Pap tests when they turn 18 or two years after they become sexually active, whichever happens later. Sexual activity includes genital skin to genital skin contact, as well as sexual intercourse.  

Once you start, you need to keep having Pap tests every two years, even if: 

• you've had the cervical cancer vaccine
• you've only been sexually active once
• you've only had one sexual partner
• you're no longer sexually active
• you're a lesbian
• you've gone through menopause.  

Women who have never been sexually active don't need to have Pap tests.

What is a Pap test?

It's a quick and simple test used to look for changes to the cells of the cervix (opening to the uterus) that could lead to cervical cancer. You can have the test at your doctor's or at one of our clinics. 

A doctor or specially trained nurse takes a sample of cells from the surface of the cervix and puts them onto a glass slide. The slide is examined at a laboratory and the results are sent back to your doctor or nurse within a week or two.

Most Pap test results are normal. A small number show changes in the cells of the cervix. Most of these changes are minor infections that can be easily treated or clear up naturally.

In a very small number of cases, the changes could develop into cervical cancer if left untreated. When detected early, changes to the cells of the cervix are easy to treat. This is why it's important to have a Pap test every two years.

Vaccination

It's now possible to be vaccinated against some of main viruses that cause cervical cancer. The main vaccine used in Australia is Gardasil. Gardasil protects against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) types 16, 18, 6 and 11. HPV types 16 and 18 cause around 70% of cervical cancers. HPV types 6 and 11 cause around 90% of genital warts.

Gardasil has been approved for women aged 9-45. It's most effective when given to girls aged 9-12. It's also more effective when given to girls and women before they become sexually active (before they've been exposed to HPV.)

If you haven't been vaccinated at school, we recommend that you visit one of our clinics or speak to your doctor about whether the vaccine could benefit you. 

Where do I get vaccinated?

The vaccine is given in three doses over a six month period. Girls in Year 7 can have it at no cost as part of the school based National Immunisation Program.

Gardasil has also been approved for boys aged 9-15, but because they don't get the vaccine for free through the National Immunisation Program, they need to see a doctor. 

For more information about Pap tests and cervical cancer, see Papscreen Victoria's website.