Dr Ngwenya said there are non-negotiable tests every woman must have. Picture Hein Kaiser Routine screening for dangerous conditions and early diagnosis saves lives, yet many women still guess their way through how often they should go for tests and screenings. It’s a simple routine to get into, but often, according to Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Zanele Ngwenya, it’s shrouded in misconceptions that can delay diagnosis.
Early detection, said Dr Ngwenya, depends on following intervals that are based on risk, not on fear or old habits. She said that simple, consistent screening is still one of the strongest tools women have, and getting the timing right is as important as the test itself. It is one of the easiest ways for women to protect themselves.
Dr Ngwenya said that cervical cancer screening is always at the starting blocks. A pap smear checks for HPV, the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer. “How often you screen depends on your HIV status,” she said.
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“If a woman is HIV positive, she starts screening at diagnosis. With HPV testing, she screens every three years. If she is HIV negative, she starts at the age of 25 and screens every five years.” She added that testing HPV negative opens an important opportunity.
“You can get the HPV vaccine if you are HPV negative. It protects against the high-risk strains and helps prevent cervical cancer,” she said. Misconceptions, she said, lead to women delaying screening.
The belief that women who are not sexually active do not need a pap smear is an old wives’ tale. “HPV is sexually transmitted, so there is truth in that,” she said. “But cervical cancer also has other risk factors like family history and smoking. You should still screen even if you are not sexually active.”
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