Cervical Cancer: One of the Most Preventable Cancers — Yet Too Many Women+ Are Missing Their Screening
Why your cervical screening matters, what puts you at risk, and how we can close the prevention gap.
Cervical cancer is highly preventable — and yet thousands of women+ in Australia are still being diagnosed each year.
Despite major advances in vaccination, screening, and early treatment, one barrier remains: many people simply aren’t getting screened regularly.
According to national data, over a quarter of Australian women+ aged 25–74 did not complete a cervical screening between 2019–2023. That means more than one in four people at risk missed a test that could save their life.
At Elgin House, we believe this isn’t about blame — it’s about understanding. Life is busy. Screenings can feel uncomfortable, confronting, or easy to postpone. But staying up to date is one of the most powerful ways women+ can protect their long-term health.
Let’s break down what you need to know.
Why cervical cancer is so preventable?
Nearly 99% of cervical cancer cases worldwide are linked to high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus). HPV is extremely common — around four in five people will contract it at some point. Most infections clear naturally, but when they don’t, they can cause changes to cervical cells over time.
The good news?
Cervical screening can detect these early changes long before symptoms appear. When picked up early, precancerous cells can usually be treated simply and successfully.
This is why the screening program matters — it doesn’t just detect cancer, it helps prevent it.
The HPV vaccine: powerful, but not complete protection
Australia offers a highly effective HPV vaccine through the school immunisation program and for people up to age 19.
The vaccine protects against the majority of high-risk HPV strains that cause cervical cancer — but not all of them.
That means vaccinated women+ still need to screen every five years from age 25.
Screening + vaccination = the strongest protection.
Why some women+ miss their screening?
It’s important to acknowledge the real reasons people delay or avoid screening:
embarrassment or discomfort
previous traumatic experiences
lack of time
uncertainty about what the test involves
past negative interactions with healthcare providers
cultural or personal barriers
forgetting the five-year interval
But the reality is this:
Most cervical cancers occur in people who have not been screened in the last decade.
If you’ve put it off — you’re not alone, and it’s never too late to get back on track.
Early signs? Often there are none.
Cervical cancer rarely shows symptoms in its earliest stages.
That’s why screening matters so much — it finds changes long before you’d be able to notice anything yourself.
By the time symptoms appear (such as unusual bleeding or pelvic discomfort), the disease may already be more advanced.
Screening sees what you can’t.
How cervical screening works:
A small sample is collected from the cervix and tested for high-risk HPV.
There are now two ways to complete the test:
Your GP or practitioner can collect the sample, or
You can choose a self-collection swab (eligible through most clinics).
Both options are safe, accurate, and designed to give every woman+ a choice that feels comfortable and empowering.
What increases cervical cancer risk?
Beyond HPV, several factors may elevate risk:
smoking
long-term use of certain hormonal contraceptives
a weakened immune system
starting sexual activity at a younger age
having multiple sexual partners
not attending regular screenings
None of these factors guarantee cervical cancer — but they reinforce the importance of consistent screening.
Is cervical cancer curable?
When detected early, most early-stage cervical cancers are curable.
Treatment is significantly more successful when abnormalities are found before symptoms begin.
Globally, health organisations believe cervical cancer could be virtually eliminated within a generation — if vaccination, screening, and early treatment rates continue to rise.
That starts with each of us prioritising our check-ups.
References — Cervical Cancer Prevention & Screening
Cancer Australia. Cervical Cancer Statistics and Trends.
https://www.canceraustralia.gov.auAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). National Cervical Screening Program Monitoring Report.
https://www.aihw.gov.auNational Cervical Screening Program (NCSP). Cervical Screening Guidelines for Health Providers.
https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/national-cervical-screening-programWorld Health Organization (WHO). Cervical Cancer: Prevention and Control.
https://www.who.int/health-topics/cervical-cancerWorld Health Organization (WHO). Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer fact sheet.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-and-cervical-cancerCancer Council Australia. HPV, Vaccination and Cervical Cancer: Evidence and Recommendations.
https://www.cancer.org.auCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/hpvThe Lancet Public Health. Global progress toward the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). HPV and Cancer: Epidemiological Evidence Review.
Australian Government Department of Health. Self-collection in Cervical Screening: Clinical Guidance.
National Health Service (NHS). Cervical Cancer Screening and Early Detection.