Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when caught early, and nearly all cases are caused by persistent infection with high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Below age 30, most HPV infections are cleared naturally by the body within a year or two. From age 30 onwards, an infection is more likely to persist, and persistent high-risk HPV is what drives the slow progression toward precancerous changes and, eventually, cancer if left undetected.
That is why FV Hospital's screening for women 30 to 65 centres on high-risk HPV DNA testing rather than the Pap Smear alone: it identifies the underlying viral cause directly, giving your Gynaecologist a clearer, earlier signal of risk. At FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, this screening costs a fraction of comparable programmes in Singapore, Australia, or the UK. Sondax handles scheduling, timed to your cycle, and English-language support throughout.
This screening is designed for women aged 30 to 65. Most deaths from cervical cancer could be avoided if women had regular check-ups with Pap tests and HPV DNA tests, and this age group carries the highest diagnosis rates, making consistent screening especially important through your 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond.
The hrHPV test collects a sample of cervical cells, similar to a Pap Smear, but instead of examining the cells under a microscope for abnormal changes, the lab tests the sample's DNA for the presence of high-risk HPV strains, the types most strongly linked to cervical cancer. A negative result is reassuring: without persistent high-risk HPV, the risk of developing cervical cancer in the near term is low. A positive result does not mean cancer. It means your Gynaecologist will want to monitor more closely, potentially with a Pap Smear or colposcopy, to check whether any cell changes have started.
Women aged 21 to 29 are screened differently, with a Pap Smear screening programme rather than HPV testing, since HPV infections at that age are usually transient and less predictive of long-term risk.
You check in and are seen privately by a Gynaecologist. Sample collection takes only a few minutes and involves brief pressure rather than pain, the same process as a Pap Smear. Your Gynaecologist explains each step beforehand so there are no surprises. Results and any recommended follow-up are discussed with you in English.
Schedule your hrHPV test for two weeks after your last menstrual period ends. Avoid intercourse, vaginal medication, contraceptives, lubricants, and douches for 48 hours before the exam. Other exams and additional tests are not included in this programme. All prices are per person and subject to change without prior notice.
FV Hospital was established in Ho Chi Minh City in 2003 and is a member of Thomson Medical, one of Southeast Asia's leading healthcare groups. FV was the first hospital in southern Vietnam to earn the JCI Gold Seal in 2016, and has renewed its JCI accreditation four consecutive times with over 98 percent compliance across more than 1,200 international patient safety and quality criteria.
With 45+ specialties, 210+ Vietnamese and international doctors, and care for more than 6 million patients since 2003, FV blends French and Vietnamese medical expertise and provides English- and French-speaking staff for international patients.
