International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Women over the age of 25 who have had multiple partners should visit the hospital to be screened for the human papillomavirus (HPV), according to one Malawian doctor.

Expressing concern about a lack of knowledge over HPV, Dr Frank Taulo, director of the Centre for Reproductive Health at the Malawi College of Medicine, told the Daily Times that the virus could lead to the development of cervical cancer.

He said there is a lengthy period between the time a woman contracts the virus and the time cervical cancer takes to develop – potentially between ten and 30 years – but it remains vital to diagnose it early.

Dr Taulo said that where women are tested, the chances of an early detection of HPV increase, as do the chances for successful treatment.

He added: "The majority of women are able to clear the virus after contracting it and never develop the disease.

"When there is no screening, there cannot be any treatment which means more and more women keep dying of [cervical cancer]," Dr Taulo said.

Last week, research conducted by the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch at the US National Cancer Institute, published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, indicated that people living with Aids are at an increased risk of developing HPV-associated cancers.