Are Singaporean women keeping up with their health screenings?

Between work, family and everything else life throws our way, it's easy for health screenings to slip through the cracks. But while a Pap smear or mammogram may not be the most exciting appointment to book, it could be one of the most important.

In Singapore, women aged 25 and above are recommended to undergo cervical cancer screening every three years, while those aged 40 and above should have a mammogram every two years. Yet participation rates remain low. We spoke to women aged 23 to 60 to find out whether they're keeping up with these recommendations and what might be holding them back.

Many women simply don’t know when they should get screened

For younger women especially, health screenings aren’t always top of mind.

“I’ve not gotten screened yet,” says Charis, 23. When asked how often women should get screened, she admits, “I actually don’t know anything about it.”

Similarly, Farah, 25, has never had a Pap smear. Having completed the HPV vaccination, she believes she can wait until she’s older.

“I’ve already gotten all my HPV vaccines so I think I should be fine for now. I’ll go for a Pap smear eventually, when I’m older, maybe 30 and above.”

When asked how often women should get screened, she guesses, “Maybe once every two years.”

Even among women who are already getting screened, the recommendations aren’t always clear. Miki, 28, says she goes for a Pap smear every year, but only because it’s included in her annual health screening package.

“I don’t actively think, ‘I need a Pap smear.’”

Convenience helps, but awareness still matters

For some women, reminders and workplace health benefits make it easier to stay on track.
Alicia, 30, couldn’t remember exactly when her last Pap smear was until she checked her HealthHub app, which reminds her when she’s due for her next screening.

Others choose to get screened more frequently than recommended.

“I think the recommended frequency is every three years, but there’s no harm getting it done more frequently,” says Deborah, 32. She opts for annual Pap smears alongside comprehensive health checks and blood tests.

Marie, 32, does the same after a health scare a few years ago.

“I had non stop bleeding and unusual discharge, and the doctor thought it could be cervical cancer, even though I’d completed my HPV vaccinations the year before. Thankfully, it turned out to be just an infection.”

“I’m definitely more wary since then.”

Not everyone in their 30s has started screening, however. Rachel, 32, admits she has never had a Pap smear, despite having given birth. She also believed the screening should be done every year.

Fear and uncertainty are still major barriers

For women aged 40 and above, mammograms become an important part of preventive healthcare. But fear, uncertainty and even the discomfort of the procedure itself often discourage women from booking an appointment.

Xing Yi, 41, recently went for her first mammogram.

“It was a lot more painful than I expected. Maybe that’s why most women don’t want to do it. If I had a choice, I probably wouldn’t either.”

Riya, 53, can’t remember when she last had a mammogram. “Probably in my 40s when I was still working.”

When asked how often women should get screened, she laughs,“I’m not too sure. I’d have to Google it.”

For Angel, 60, fear of receiving bad news has kept her away from screenings altogether. The mother of three says her last Pap smear and mammogram were just after the birth of her youngest child, about 25 years ago.

“I’m afraid of doctors and I’m always expecting bad news, so I don’t want to get checked in case it is bad news.”

Asked what she would do if she were diagnosed with an illness, she says she prefers to focus on looking after herself.

“I’m at an age where I just do my best to look after my body so I don’t need to go to the hospital.”

Speaking to women across different generations, one thing became clear: awareness doesn’t always lead to action. Whether it was not knowing the recommended guidelines, assuming they weren’t at risk or putting off appointments out of fear, many admitted their health screenings had fallen down the priority list.

The reality is that these screenings are designed to catch potential issues before symptoms even appear. While booking a Pap smear or mammogram may not be the most exciting item on your to do list, it could well be one of the most important.