{"id":436,"date":"2023-01-05T04:28:53","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T04:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stogpractice.com\/staging\/?p=436"},"modified":"2023-08-07T05:24:44","modified_gmt":"2023-08-07T05:24:44","slug":"avoiding-your-pap-smear-and-hpv-screening-these-routine-tests-could-save-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stogpractice.com\/staging\/avoiding-your-pap-smear-and-hpv-screening-these-routine-tests-could-save-your-life","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding Your Pap Smear and HPV Screening? These Routine Tests Could Save Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Avoiding your Pap smear and HPV screening? These routine tests could save your life<\/strong><\/p>\n

Women in Singapore are now much more aware of how important cervical cancer screening is, yet we remain resistant to it. CNA Lifestyle asked doctors how these checks are critical in prevention.<\/p>\n

The first time I heard the term \u201cPap smear\u201d was two years ago, when my mum did it as part of her routine health checkup.<\/p>\n

I was 26 then, and had many questions about the test. I found out later that Mum, too, had done her first Pap smear test only at the age of 40.<\/p>\n

It turns out that even though women in Singapore are mostly familiar with it (it’s also called a Pap test), many are still resistant about going for it.<\/p>\n

The Pap smear looks for abnormal cells in the cervix and is used to screen for cervical cancer.<\/p>\n

Based on the 2019 National Population Health Survey, only 76.5 per cent of adults between 25 and 29 years old knew about Pap smears, as compared to 91 per cent of those between 30 and 69 years old.<\/p>\n

\u201cYounger women below 30 don\u2019t see the value of and need for screening because the absolute numbers of cervical cancer among the young are low,\u201d said Professor Tay Sun Kuie, Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Singapore General Hospital.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, women between 30 and 45 years tend to dismiss screening, which they deem a low priority due to busy work schedules and the fear of pain associated with the test, Prof Tay added.<\/p>\n

According to an ongoing study by Ferne Health, a women-focused sexual health platform, the top barriers preventing women from going for a Pap smear include the lack of knowledge of it, fear of discomfort, and the embarrassment of exposing one\u2019s private parts in the clinic, especially to a male doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany women have heard stories from their friends about how painful (the procedure) is,\u201d said Liu, the founder of Ferne Health.<\/p>\n

Keeping these reasons in mind, CNA Lifestyle talked to experts to gain a clearer understanding of the screening process \u2013 and why it\u2019s such a critical health check for women.<\/p>\n

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PAP SMEAR AND HPV SCREENING<\/strong><\/p>\n

First up, the Pap smear is just one of two health tests to screen for cervical cancer. The other is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) screening, also called an HPV DNA test. Which one you do depends on how old you are.<\/p>\n

Said Dr Qi Maili, a consultant at KKH\u2019s Department of Gynaecological Oncology: \u201cThe purpose of Pap smear is to identify abnormal changes in the cervical cells while HPV screening tests for the presence of high-risk cancer-causing HPV strains.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Ministry of Health guidelines:<\/p>\n