# 9 | Cervical Cancer, HPV, and the Test That Saves Lives

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers affecting women, yet it continues to claim lives every year. This is not due to lack of tools but because awareness, access, and follow-through still fall short. At the centre of this conversation is HPV, a virus so common that most sexually active people will be exposed to it at some point in their lives, and a screening test that remains underused despite its life-saving potential.

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancer cases. In most people, the immune system clears the virus naturally. In some, however, high-risk strains can persist silently for years, causing cellular changes that may eventually develop into cervical cancer. This is what makes HPV particularly dangerous: it rarely causes symptoms until changes are already advanced. No pain, no warning signs, no clear signal that something is wrong.

This is where cervical screening matters. A Pap smear does not diagnose cancer. It identifies abnormal cervical cells early, often years before they could become dangerous. When detected at this stage, intervention is simple, effective, and life-saving. Yet many women delay or avoid screening altogether due to fear, discomfort, lack of access, misinformation, or being told it can wait.

The reality is that cervical cancer does not discriminate by age, background, or lifestyle. Being in a long-term relationship does not eliminate risk. Feeling healthy does not mean screening is unnecessary. And vaccination, while powerful, does not replace the need for regular cervical checks.

Despite clear evidence, women’s preventive care is often deprioritised, squeezed between work, caregiving, and the emotional load of daily life. Cervical cancer awareness month exists to remind us that prevention is not optional, and that early action is an act of self-respect, not indulgence.

At HER, we believe access is everything. Knowledge without action changes very little. That is why we are offering free Pap smear screenings in Zurich on the 24th of January removing financial and logistical barriers so that more women can take this crucial step without hesitation or delay. This is about meeting women where they are and making preventive healthcare easier, not harder.

Cervical screening is one of the clearest examples of modern medicine working when it is actually used.

Women’s health does not need more awareness campaigns alone. It needs access, follow-through, and systems that support prevention long before crisis.

Book your free Pap smear through HER and take a step that protects not just your future health, but your peace of mind.