Dubbo medical professionals are up in arms after a well-known senior doctor was reported as saying Australian women are “wasting their time” getting pap smears every two years.

Former director of the NSW cervical cancer screening program Dr Gerry Wain was reported as applauding the drop in young women getting regular pap smears.

He said it was a result of a better understanding of cervical cancer prevention.

Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) clinical nurse consultant Joanne Phillips said Dr Wain’s message should be ignored.

“There is just not enough evidence to support his claims. The Gardasil injection is still relatively new. The truth is we don’t know enough about the long-term effects of the injection yet,” Ms Phillips said.

She said all women should have a pap smear every two years as the best preventative measure against cervical cancer.

“Many young women think once they’ve had the Gardasil injection they are safe from cervical cancer and STIs. It definitely doesn’t protect you from STIs,” Ms Phillips said.

“Many young girls are afraid to say they’ve had sex before. The injection is most effective on virgins but often girls get it and expect to be totally covered. They are not.”

Ms Phillips said four out of five Australian women now have the HPV virus. In 99.7 per cent of cervical cancer cases the patient had the HPV virus.

“HPV is the common cold of sexual activity. We don’t know whether it will mutate into cancer unless we monitor it. Regular pap smears help doctors to detect cell changes and act before cancer appears,” Ms Phillips said.

She said cervical cancer rates in indigenous women were six times higher than non-indigenous women due largely to indigenous women not having regular screenings.

“If all women were regularly screened 90 per cent of cervical cancers could be prevented. It still remains the safest way to prevent cancer,” Ms Phillips said.

Ms Phillips encouraged women of all ages to take advantage of the free pap smears at the Dubbo Community Health Centre in Palmer Street.

It is a free, confidential service. Appointments can be made by calling the clinic on 6885 8999.

keely.bell@ruralpress.com

What you should know about cervical cancer

If you are over 18 and have ever had sex you should have regular pap smears even if you no longer have sex.

Risk factors for cervical cancer

n Smoking

n Age 25-39 year-olds are most likely to contract it

n Having the HPV virus

n Five or more sexual partners

n Early age of first sexual encounter

n Taking the contraceptive pill for more than seven years

n Having any STIs