No early signs of cervical cancer? You can now undergo an HPV test at home.

Do you know cervical cancer, which arises from the neck of the womb, is the 10th most common cancer amongst Singaporean women?

While advanced cervical cancer may trigger symptoms such as irregular or abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods and pain during sexual intercourse, early-stage cervical cancer may be hard to notice on one’s own as it generally shows no symptoms or signs, according to SingHealth.

One common cause of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV), which is most commonly transmitted during sexual intercourse, as well as through close skin contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States.

As the majority of HPV infections are asymptomatic, an individual can be infected without knowing it.

Is HPV dangerous?

While there are more than 100 types of HPV, not all HPV infections are equally dangerous, according to HealthHub.

In about 90 per cent of the infection cases, the human body’s immune system can fight off the virus and wipe it out.

However, infections of some high-risk HPV types may persist, causing cells to grow abnormally and develop into cervical cancer.

Two noteworthy HPV types are types 16 and 18, which account for about 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases worldwide.

How to prevent cervical cancer?

To best protect oneself from cervical cancer, all females between the ages of nine and 26 are “strongly recommended” to get the HPV vaccination, according to HealthHub.

Eligible Singapore citizens and permanent residents will also be able to enjoy subsidies and use MediSave for Cervarix, a vaccine that provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18.

Another vaccine that is approved for use in Singapore is Gardasil 9, which provides protection against an additional 20 per cent of cancer-causing HPV types.

More information about the HPV vaccines can be found here.

Go for regular screenings

With that said, those who have received their HPV vaccinations should still go for regular cervical cancer screenings, according to HealthHub.

This is because HPV vaccinations only offer protection against 70 to 90 per cent of high-risk HPV types.

Furthermore, as it usually takes years or even decades for abnormal cells to develop into cervical cancer, regular screenings are the most effective way to detect cancer-causing HPV types and precancerous cervical cell changes, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In Singapore, all women between the ages of 25 and 29 who have ever had sex are recommended to undergo a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test once every three years, according to HealthHub.

For women aged 30 and above, they are recommended to undergo an HPV test once every five years.

Getting tested in the comfort of your home

If you are thinking of getting screened, you can schedule an appointment at your family doctor’s clinic, polyclinics, or selected Screen for Life Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) general practitioner (GP) clinics.

Alternatively, if you are eligible, you can skip the queue by trying out Camtech Health’s HPV test, which allows you to conduct a “pain-free” vaginal swab on your own, all in the comfort, privacy and convenience of your home.

Camtech Health is a Singapore-based digital health solution company that aims to empower individuals across Southeast Asia to take charge of their health and well-being.

Its HPV test will detect HPV strains that are known to be associated with cervical cancer.

Besides HPV types 16 and 18, the test also genotypes other less commonly reported high-risk types 31, 45, 51, and 52, as well as those reported in groups: (33, 58), (35, 39, 68), and (56, 59, 66), added Camtech Health.

How it works

To get your hands on the HPV test, all you need to do is place an order on the Camtech Health app and complete a compulsory online medical assessment.

Once you collect your sample following the instructions given, you can return the specimen bag to the company for analysis.

The analysis will be done through Camtech Health’s licensed and accredited partner lab that uses diagnostic technologies from American company Becton Dickinson (BD), according to the company.

Your test results, which include a GP-reviewed report, will become available on your Camtech Health app within a week.

A doctor will reach out to you to discuss your results if needed.

You can also choose to get tested at Camtech Health’s clinic partners, such as SOG Health and Frontier Healthcare.

Throughout the process, your personal data will be handled in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), according to Camtech Health.

You can find out more about Camtech Health and its HPV test here.

This sponsored article by Camtech Health helps the writer understand cervical cancer better.

Top images via Canva