You do not need to start having cervical screening tests until you turn 25. People aged up to 26 can receive free catch-up vaccinations from their GP or primary health care clinic, and older adults can still access the HPV vaccine at a cost. It’s free, as part of the National Immunisation Program (NIP). The HPV vaccineĪs well as introducing the cervical screening test, the Australian Government now vaccinates all school children aged 12–13 against HPV. Having genital warts does not mean you will get cancer - they are caused by a different type of HPV virus. HPV can also cause genital warts, which can be easily treated. This can lead to cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, vulva, penis or throat. But some types of the HPV virus can remain in the body and eventually cause abnormal cells to develop. HPV doesn’t normally cause any symptoms and often goes away by itself. In fact, there are more than 100 strains of HPV, and 4 out of 5 people have at least one kind of HPV virus at some time in their lives. You can be exposed to HPV the first time you have sex, even if you use a condom. Almost every case of cervical cancer is caused by genital HPV. HPV is a very common virus that is spread through skin-to-skin contact (which often occurs during sex). More information on self-collection is available from the Department of Health and Aged Care. Speak to your doctor about what’s right for you. But, people who have symptoms of cervical cancer or are experiencing unusual bleeding, pain or discharge are not recommended for self-testing. This means that you can take your own sample for the test from your vagina, using a swab. In July 2022, self-collection of samples for cervical screening tests became available to all people with a cervix aged 25 to 74. Video provided by Pathology Tests Explained Watch this video to learn more about cervical screening and why the new HPV test has replaced the Pap smear test. If you are due for a test, speak to your doctor or call the National Cervical Screening Program on 13 15 56 for more information. If you are a person aged 25 to 74 with a cervix, you should have your first cervical screening test 2 years after your last Pap test. But it is only done every 5 years instead of every 2 years, if your results are normal. The cervical screening test looks and feels the same as the Pap test. Now the cervical screening test looks for evidence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cell changes in the cervix. The Pap test used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix, the entrance to the uterus (womb) from the vagina. It was introduced in Australia in December 2017, and is expected to protect almost one third more people from cervical cancer than the old Pap test. The cervical screening test is a new, more accurate way of protecting females against cervical cancer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |