Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among young women within the European Union [1]. In November 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated the Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, aiming to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health concern by 2100 through integrated strategies of vaccination, screening, and treatment [2]. The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has reported global progress towards these objectives [3]. Nevertheless, the European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG) has identified differences in the execution of cervical screening programs across European nations, attributable to organizational, economic, and cultural factors. EBCOG continues to advocate for the adoption of a harmonized policy for cervical cancer prevention, screening, and early detection throughout Europe to improve clinical outcomes and reduce disparities [4].
References
1. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/january-cervical-cancer-awareness-month-2025
2. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization (WHO). IARC marks Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2026. https://www.iarc.who.int/news-events/iarc-marks-cervical-cancer-awareness-month-2026/
3. Neerja Bhatla, Daisuke Aoki, Daya Nand Sharma, Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan. Cancer of the cervix uteri: 2025 update. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2025; Vol 171 Issue S1: 87-108. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijgo.70277
4. Marcia Vieira-Coimbra, Nuno Nogueira-Martins, Rafal Zadykowicz, Hugo Rodrigues Gaspar, Jean Calleja-Agius, Maja Pakiz, Sambit Mukhopadhyay, Tahir Mahmood. EBCOG position statement on Inequalities in screening for cervical and breast cancer. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 289 (2023) 217-218. https://ebcog.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/EURO-13007-Inequalities-in-screening-for-cervical-and-breast-cancer.pdf