Chinese women's cervical health is not looking good, according to preliminary results from a recent cervical cancer-screening programme.

The three-year programme, initiated by the Capital Women Journalists' Association and China Women's News, has already offered free cervical cancer smears to 10,000 women since its start-up in August.

During the past four months, experts from the Beijing Contemporary Women's Hospital and General Hospital of Beijing Military Region, the two hospitals taking part in the programme, have compiled medical records for each recipient.

About 45 per cent of recipients have tested positive for cervicitis (inflammation of the uterine cervix) and nearly 40 per cent for vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina and the vulva).

"It shows that genital inflammation is quite common in Chinese women," said Yan Guohua, director of Beijing Contemporary Women's Hospital.

More than 100 women exhibited signs of abnormal cell growth.

"However, it is a great pity that some of these women did not come forward for tests sooner due to poor awareness of the harm of the disease and economic reasons," said Zhou Jing, director of the pathology department of General Hospital of Beijing Military Region.

According to Zhou, an early diagnosis of cervical cancer would increase the chances of successful treatment. As long as cervical cancer is identified in its early stages, nearly 90 per cent of cases can be successfully treated.

The project aims to screen 100,000 women for cervical cancer. Women aged between 20 and 70 can arrange an appointment for a free smear by phoning 9609-6066.

Source: China Daily