What is cervical cancer?
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Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus or womb.
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Cervical cancer develops slowly over time, usually taking many years, when abnormal cells grow on the cervix.
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These abnormal cells are caused by infection with high-risk types of HPV.
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Abnormalities in the cells of the cervix can be detected by cervical screening and removed.
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Each year there are around 25,000 abnormal smear test results among New Zealand women.
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Without cervical screening about one out of 90 women will develop cervical cancer and one out of 200 will die from it. With screening about one out of 570 will develop cervical cancer and one out of 1,280 will die from it.
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Regular three-yearly cervical smear tests are recommended for all women aged 20 to 70 who have ever been sexually active. Click here for more information about New Zealand’s National Cervical Screening Programme.
