Taking care of yourself goes beyond drinking enough water and eating fruits and vegetables. It involves full body health check ups and vaccinations, among many other things.
If you can’t remember the last time you went for a voluntary health check up or vaccination, it’s probably time to go for one. For ladies aged 26 and below, getting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a good place to start! It can provide up to 95% protection against cervical cancer – one of the only two cancers that are preventable by vaccination.
Human Papillo-huh?
Sit tight, ladies. Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection that spreads through intimate skin-to-skin contact (yes, that means third base). It’s so common as most people will get HPV at least once in their lifetime. In fact, more than 1 in 4 women aged 20 to 24 in Singapore have HPV. Uh oh!
There are over 100 HPV types and most have no signs or symptoms, so you may never know if you’re carrying the infection. If you happen to be infected with one of the high-risk (cancer-causing) HPV types, it could eventually develop into cervical cancer. That’s cancer at the neck of your womb, which might lead to infertility and even death.
Your chance at preventing cervical cancer comes in the form of the HPV vaccination.
In addition, women above the age of 25 should have regular Pap smear screenings for early detection of abnormal cells in the cervix. Still wondering if you should get the shot?
Here are some basic facts of the vaccination that’ll hopefully help you make the decision:
- The vaccination is recommended for women between ages 9 to 26. Ideally, the vaccination is most effective if given before sexual exposure. If you are above the age of 26, talk to your doctor to find out if you are suitable to take it.
- Three doses of the vaccination will have to be taken over the course of 6 months.
- Vaccination prices range from S$300 to S$800.
- The vaccination is Medisave-claimable, up to S$400 for Singaporeans aged 26 and below. You could also use your immediate family members’ (i.e parents or spouse) Medisave to pay for the vaccination.
- You can receive the HPV vaccination at a polyclinic or at a GP clinic.
Don’t sweat it if you were unaware of HPV before this article, we were too! A huge thank you to our friends at Call The Shots for bringing awareness of HPV to us girls (and guys). It might be overwhelming and scary, but always necessary! Have a sit down with your loved ones about getting the vaccination and take the first step to protecting yourself.