Cervical Cancer Prevention

How to prevent cervical cancer? 

The following may help prevent cervical cancer:

  • Quit smoking.
  • Maintain hygiene during sexual contact. Practise safe sex to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs)and to lower the risk of HPV infection.
  • Have regular Pap smear test. (If your first cervical smear result is normal, you should have the second smear 1 year later. If your second smear result is also normal, you should repeat smears every 3 years. For women with multiple sex partners, it is better to have the test every year.)
  • If you have any symptom (such as abnormal vaginal bleeding), you should see a doctor promptly, even if your last smear result was normal.

HPV Vaccination

Currently, the most common HPV vaccination is 9-valent. Basic information is as follows:

Vaccine
9-valent
Against HPV
HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58
Indicated age and diseasesprevention caused by related HPV
From 9 years old (female or male). Can prevent cervical cancer and genital warts.
Common side effects
Pain, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, bleeding, a lump where you got the shot, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and sore throat.
Dosage and schedule
For the 3-dose schedule, the second shot should be given 2 months after the first shot and the third shot should be given 6 months after the first shot.
Price (reference only)
HK$1000-HK$2000 per shot
Caution 
HPV vaccination is not recommended for use in pregnant women.

*HPV vaccine does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it is important for women to continue routine cervical cancer screenings. HPV vaccine does not treat cancer or genital warts.