Mongolia to Screen 20,000 Women for HPV to Prevent Cervical Cancer
Around 20,000 women in Mongolia will undergo HPV screening this year to help prevent cervical cancer, the health ministry said.
Around 20,000 women in their 30s and 40s in Mongolia will undergo screening for human papillomavirus (HPV), a major cause of cervical cancer, this year, according to local media reports citing the health ministry.
The ministry emphasised that cervical cancer is preventable and urged women in the targeted age group to actively participate in the screening programme.
According to the National Centre for Communicable Diseases, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Mongolia and the fourth most common cancer nationwide.
In 2025, Mongolia, with a population of 3.5 million, recorded 551 new cases of cervical cancer and 171 related deaths, Xinhua news agency reported.
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection. Almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms.
HPV can affect the skin, genital area and throat.
Condoms help prevent HPV but do not offer total protection because they do not cover all the genital skin.
HPV usually goes away on its own without treatment. Some HPV infections cause genital warts, while others can lead to abnormal cell changes that may develop into cancer.
Cancers caused by HPV can be prevented with vaccines.
The vaccine does not contain any live virus or viral DNA, so it cannot cause cancer or other HPV-related illnesses. It is designed to prevent the development of cancers rather than treat existing infections.
Currently, cervical cancer is the only HPV-related cancer for which screening tests are available. These tests help detect disease before symptoms appear, allowing identification of precancerous changes that can be treated early. Screening is an essential part of routine healthcare for individuals with a cervix, including women and transgender men.
Cervical cancer remains the most common HPV-related cancer, although the virus can also cause other cancers such as anal, vulvar, vaginal, throat, and penile cancers in both men and women.
With Inputs From IANS
Khushi Chittoria joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Media and Editorial Intern. She holds a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from IP University and has completed certifications in content writing. She has a strong interest in anchoring, content writing, and editing. At Medical Dialogues, Khushi works in the editorial department, web stories and anchoring.