Cervical cancer is the most common female cancer in low- and middle-income countries and ranks fourth in the cancers of the womankind. In more than 95% cases of cervical cancer are associated with persistent HPV or Human Papilloma Virus infection. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection, which do not give any symptoms. Like common flu infection, in the most of the cases our immune system clears this infection. Persistence of this infection with High –Risk HPV can trigger changes in the cervical cells and lining giving rise to mild, moderate and severe dysplasia, ultimately turning into cancer over a period of 9-10 years. These early pre-cancerous changes in the cervical cells can be detected on the Pap smear (cytology) test. Recently tests are developed to pick up persistent HPV infection. These tests enable us to catch the disease in primitive or pre- cancerous stage.
A robust and effective use of screening in Europe and US. has resulted in a dramatic decline in cervical cancer mortality over the last three decades. The evidence has proven that the cervical cancer screening can reduce cervical cancer mortality by 80% or more among screened women. At international level, all the countries have made commitment to eliminate cervical cancer as public health problem by reducing number of new cervical cancer cases to less than 4 annually per 100.000 women by 2030. With early detection, cervical cancer can be cured completely. These screening programs had integrated cervical cytology (Pap smear) as primary screening test initially currently changing to co-testing (Pap smear and HPV test).
