Pap Smear & VIA Cervical Screening
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Cameroon, yet it is one of the most preventable. It develops slowly from precancerous changes in the cells of the cervix, which can be detected by screening and treated before cancer appears. Regular screening is the best protection, even when you feel perfectly well.
At YGOPH, our gynaecologists offer screening by visual inspection with acetic acid and Lugol's iodine (VIA/VILI), which gives an immediate result, and Pap smears read by our own pathology laboratory. Women with abnormal findings can have a colposcopy and treatment of precancerous lesions within the same care pathway.
What are VIA and the Pap smear?
Both tests are carried out during a short gynaecological examination with a speculum. For VIA, the clinician applies dilute vinegar (acetic acid), and sometimes iodine, to the cervix and looks for areas that change colour, which can indicate abnormal cells. For a Pap smear, a small brush or spatula gently collects cells from the cervix; they are spread on a slide and examined under the microscope by a pathologist.
- Women aged 25 to 65, regularly, even without symptoms
- Women living with HIV, who need more frequent screening
- Bleeding after sex or between periods, as part of a gynaecological examination
- Follow-up after treatment of a precancerous lesion
- During free or reduced-price screening campaigns such as Octobre Rose
Good to know
VIA/VILI: screen and treat
VIA gives an answer during the visit. If an abnormal area is seen and is suitable, it can often be treated quickly, within the same care pathway, using simple outpatient methods. This 'screen and treat' approach, recommended by WHO, reduces the number of visits and the risk of women being lost to follow-up.
Pap smear (cervical cytology)
The slide is examined by our pathology department, and results are usually available in about two days. A normal result means no abnormal cells were seen. Abnormal results are graded, and your gynaecologist will explain whether you need a repeat test, a colposcopy (a magnified examination of the cervix) or a biopsy.
How often should I be screened?
Women aged 25 to 65 are generally advised to be screened every three years, or as recommended by their gynaecologist according to previous results. Women living with HIV should be screened more often. Screening does not replace HPV vaccination, which Cameroon's vaccination programme offers to girls and boys from the age of 9.