HPV Vaccine: Easy Protection Against Cervical Cancer

     Cervical cancer usually occurs in women aged 40 and older, but doctors now report that it is affecting younger women, leading to a significant number of deaths among Thai women. According to data from the Ministry of Public Health, cervical cancer claims the lives of 5,200 Thai women each year—an average of 14 per day—with 10,000 new cases diagnosed annually. The highest incidence rate is found in the 45–55 age group.

What Causes Most Cases of Cervical Cancer?

     Cervical Cancer (Cervical Cancer)  is caused by a sexually transmitted viral infection full-named "Human Papillomavirus" or HPV. You might be familiar with this virus as the cause of genital warts, which has been known for a long time. However, the strains causing genital warts are low-risk types, while those causing cervical cancer are high-risk strains.

How Do You Know If You Have Cervical Cancer? 

     Cervical cancer is a major health concern because in its early stages—before it develops into invasive cancer—there are only abnormal cellular changes, and patients experience no symptoms at all. Consequently, many assume nothing is wrong and miss critical routine gynecological screenings, such as the Pap smear. A Pap smear can detect abnormal cells at an early pre-cancerous stage, allowing for treatment before full-blown cancer develops. Without screening, patients usually seek medical care only after experiencing symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, foul-smelling discharge, or bleeding after intercourse. 

Cervical Cancer Screening Methods

Today, screening options have advanced, including the following methods:

1.  Conventional Pap Smear

     Conventional Pap Smear is the traditional method with a sensitivity of 50–60% and a specificity of 98%. A major limitation of this technique is that when cells are smeared directly onto a glass slide, slide constraints and contamination from blood or discharge mean not all collected cells are analyzed, potentially leading to misdiagnosis (false-negative results). 

2.  Liquid-Based Cytology

     Liquid-Based Cytology includes methods such as ThinPrep, Liqui-PREP, or SurePath. Using a specialized tool to collect cervical epithelial cell samples in the same manner as a conventional Pap smear, all collected cells are placed directly into a preservative liquid vial. An automated system processes the cells to remove contaminants like mucus or blood cells and reduces cell overlapping on the glass slide. This gives pathologists a much better chance of detecting abnormalities. Additionally, the sample can be used for supplementary HPV testing if abnormal cells are detected, or for co-testing alongside a Pap smear during initial screening to increase overall diagnostic accuracy.  

Who Should Get Screened for Cervical Cancer?

• Women aged 25 and older who have been sexually active, or women aged 30 and older who have not been sexually active.
• Women who have received the HPV vaccine should still undergo routine screening just like other women.
• Immunocompromised women should be screened every 6 months during the first year of diagnosis, and annually thereafter.  
• Women who became sexually active at a young age. 
• Women who have had multiple pregnancies. 
• Women who smoke. 

Cervical Cancer Advice for Women

     Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer and carries severe risks. However, it can be treated successfully if detected in its early, pre-cancerous stages.

Treatment for Cervical Cancer

     Treatment at early stages may involve surgically removing only the abnormal tissue or performing a hysterectomy for patients who have completed childbearing, offering a complete cure. However, if left untreated until the disease progresses to stage 1, 2, 3, or 4 cancer, severity increases significantly, treatment becomes far more difficult, and the risk of complications rises sharply.

HPV Vaccine 

Today, the "HPV Vaccine"—derived from the HPV virus—is available to protect against cervical cancer with high efficacy. It is administered in the upper arm and can be given to girls starting from age 9. 

• This vaccine is highly effective in preventing cervical cancer, offering women another critical layer of defense against a life-threatening illness. It is recommended to consult a gynecologist for advice regarding HPV vaccination. Combining vaccination with effective screening methods provides the highest level of protection against cervical cancer. 

Cervical cancer is preventable with the HPV vaccine, and if detected in its early stages, it can be completely cured.