“Approximately 24% of Australian women aged 20-39 smoke on a daily basis,” said Suzanne Dvorak Australian CEO of Marie Stopes International.
“We know that women smokers are at greater risk of health problems relating to period pain, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), and difficulties during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Scientists have also confirmed women smokers with high levels of HPV infection had a 27-fold increased risk of cervical cancer compared to smokers with no HPV. [1]”
In comparison, high-level HPV infection only increased the risk of cervical cancer by six-fold in female non-smokers. There was also a link between the duration of smoking and cancer, with long-term smokers more likely to have an HPV infection causing cervical cancer.
“If mouth cancer, lung cancer, heart disease and the many other tobacco related diseases aren’t enough to make women quit smoking, hopefully these findings will be – and what better day than World No Tobacco Day,” said Ms Dvorak.
World No Tobacco Day is celebrated around the world every year on May 31. The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.
HPV is a common infection occurring typically in women between the ages of 18 to 30. The virus is spread via genital skin-to-skin contact, so using condoms or other barrier methods does not prevent transmission. In most cases the body takes between one and two years to clear the virus naturally.
“Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, and HPV is found in almost all cases. It is therefore imperative that women have a pap smear every two years so that cell changes can be identified and either monitored or treated well before they may become cancerous,”Ms Dvorak said.
Cervical cancer vaccinations were recently made available free to all females aged 12 – 26 under the National HPV Vaccination Program.
“A free cervical cancer vaccine is great news for women, but it is important to remember that the vaccine doesn’t prevent all cervical cancers, so regular Pap smears are still essential,” Ms Dvorak said.
“If you are over 18 and have ever had sex, you should have regular pap smears even if you are no longer sexually active."
For more information on pap smears, visit your doctor, Marie Stopes International centre or family planning clinic. For help and advice on quitting smoking, call the Quitline on 131 848.
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About Marie Stopes International
Marie Stopes International is a not-for-profit sexual and reproductive healthcare provider, with centres in the ACT, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. The organisation offers a range of services, including abortion, vasectomy, sexually transmitted infection check-ups and contraception. Surplus proceeds from Australian activities support the work of the Marie Stopes International Partnership, which delivers sexual and reproductive health services to over four million people in 37 countries worldwide.
For media enquiries contact: Samantha Smith, Public Relations 0421 097 150
