HPV and
Cervical Cancer in Thailand
In Thailand, cervical cancer affects more women than you might think.
• It is the 2nd most frequent cancer among women aged 15-44 in Thailand1
• Approximately 1 Thai woman loses her life to cervical cancer every 2 hours1
• Approximately 25 Thai women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every day1
• About 31.4 million people in Thailand are at risk of cervical cancer1
Data from ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer, Fact Sheet 2023
For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases.
Who is at risk?
Around 34% of young Thai women have had sexual intercourse before they are 17 years old. More than half of them also reported having unprotected sex.2
Such unsafe sexual practices not only put Thai women at risk of HPV infections and cervical cancer,3 but their risk also heightens with each new partner they acquire throughout their lifetime.4
For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases.
Although all sexually active women are at risk,
these factors can increase the chance of developing cervical cancer3:
Weakened
immune system
Having sexual intercourse
before the age of 18
Having many
sexual partners
History of sexually
transmitted infections
like HIV and chlamydia
Long-term use
of oral contraceptives
Having three or more
full-term pregnancies
Smoking
Whether or not you are sexually active, understanding your risk factors can help you make informed decisions about protecting yourself today.