Cervical Cancer Screening Awareness Survey: Over 40% Cite "Just Because" as Top Reason for Skipping; Certain Proportion Shows Positive Intent When Presented with "HPV Test Every 5 Years"
Roche Diagnostics surveyed 2,047 women regarding cervical cancer screening. The top reason for skipping was "just because," but over 40% showed positive intent to get screened if offered an HPV test every 5 years.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 14:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 18:56 (292h 26m after Collected)
Roche Diagnostics K.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo / President and CEO: Katsura Maeda, hereinafter Roche) conducted an "Awareness Survey on Cervical Cancer Screening" targeting 2,047 women aged 30 to 60 nationwide. The purpose of this survey is to clarify the psychological and physical barriers faced by those who have not undergone cervical cancer screening, and to explore triggers that promote behavioral changes towards undergoing the screening.
[Survey Result Highlights]
1. The main reason for not getting screened was "just because" at 43.3%, the most common, followed by "busy" (11.9%).
2. Awareness of the "Primary HPV Testing Method (HPV Testing)", introduced in some municipalities from fiscal year 2024, remains at 20% among unscreened women.
3. When presented with the change from "screening once every 2 years" to "HPV testing once every 5 years", 41.1% of unscreened women responded that they "feel more strongly about wanting to get screened", showing a positive intention.
Currently, the national cancer control policy "4th Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs" sets a target cervical cancer screening rate of 60%¹⁾. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target of a 70%²⁾ screening rate with highly accurate tests to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. However, Japan's cervical cancer screening rate remains at 43.6%³⁾, showing a significant gap in achieving the target.
In this awareness survey targeting women aged 30 and older, it was revealed that the most common factor for not being screened in the past 2 years was "just because" (43.3%), followed by "busy" (11.9%), which prevents them from getting the examination. On the other hand, by presenting the "HPV testing", which can extend the cervical cancer screening interval from the conventional once every 2 years to once every 5 years while maintaining accuracy, 41.1% of those unscreened in the past 2 years showed a positive intention to get screened.
As an in-vitro diagnostics manufacturer handling products related to cervical cancer, Roche strives to provide the latest solutions and accurate information regarding testing so that women leading busy daily lives can protect their own health. We will continue to focus even more on improving the cervical cancer screening rate and realizing a society free of cervical cancer.
[Survey Overview]
- Survey Theme: "Challenges Faced by the Unscreened Segment for Cervical Cancer Screening" and "Acceptability of the Primary HPV Testing Method"
- Survey Targets: 2,047 individual women aged 30 to 60 nationwide
- Survey Period: November 28 to December 1, 2025
- Survey Sponsor: Roche Diagnostics K.K.
- Survey Implementation Agency: INTAGE Inc.
- Survey Method: Internet survey (Weight-back aggregation based on population composition ratio was conducted)
[Survey Result Highlights (Charts 1 to 4)]
1. The main reason for not getting screened was "just because" at 43.3%, the most common, followed by "busy" (11.9%)
The reasons for not undergoing cervical cancer screening within the past 2 years were "just because" (43.3%), the most common, followed by "busy" (11.9%) and "having no symptoms" (11.4%). A trend was also confirmed where the proportion of "just because" increases as the unscreened period lengthens. Regarding the second most common reason, "busy", the proportion reached 22.1% among the segment that had been screened within the previous 3 to 5 years, significantly exceeding the overall average (11.9%) of those not screened within 2 years (Chart 1). It is evident that for this segment, time constraints serve as a major physical barrier to getting screened.
On the other hand, more than 80% of the segment that has not been screened in the past 2 years but has screening experience in the past recognizes the "necessity of regular screening" (Chart 2). To bridge the gap between this "high awareness of the necessity of regular screening" and "actual behavior", it is considered necessary not only to raise individual awareness but also to structurally improve the psychological and physical hurdles that prevent screening, prompting concrete screening behaviors from the segment in the screening stagnation phase.
(Chart 1) To those who have not undergone cervical cancer screening within the past 2 years. Please tell us the reason why you did not undergo the cervical cancer screening. (The most applicable reason)
[Survey Result Highlights]
1. The main reason for not getting screened was "just because" at 43.3%, the most common, followed by "busy" (11.9%).
2. Awareness of the "Primary HPV Testing Method (HPV Testing)", introduced in some municipalities from fiscal year 2024, remains at 20% among unscreened women.
3. When presented with the change from "screening once every 2 years" to "HPV testing once every 5 years", 41.1% of unscreened women responded that they "feel more strongly about wanting to get screened", showing a positive intention.
Currently, the national cancer control policy "4th Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs" sets a target cervical cancer screening rate of 60%¹⁾. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target of a 70%²⁾ screening rate with highly accurate tests to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. However, Japan's cervical cancer screening rate remains at 43.6%³⁾, showing a significant gap in achieving the target.
In this awareness survey targeting women aged 30 and older, it was revealed that the most common factor for not being screened in the past 2 years was "just because" (43.3%), followed by "busy" (11.9%), which prevents them from getting the examination. On the other hand, by presenting the "HPV testing", which can extend the cervical cancer screening interval from the conventional once every 2 years to once every 5 years while maintaining accuracy, 41.1% of those unscreened in the past 2 years showed a positive intention to get screened.
As an in-vitro diagnostics manufacturer handling products related to cervical cancer, Roche strives to provide the latest solutions and accurate information regarding testing so that women leading busy daily lives can protect their own health. We will continue to focus even more on improving the cervical cancer screening rate and realizing a society free of cervical cancer.
[Survey Overview]
- Survey Theme: "Challenges Faced by the Unscreened Segment for Cervical Cancer Screening" and "Acceptability of the Primary HPV Testing Method"
- Survey Targets: 2,047 individual women aged 30 to 60 nationwide
- Survey Period: November 28 to December 1, 2025
- Survey Sponsor: Roche Diagnostics K.K.
- Survey Implementation Agency: INTAGE Inc.
- Survey Method: Internet survey (Weight-back aggregation based on population composition ratio was conducted)
[Survey Result Highlights (Charts 1 to 4)]
1. The main reason for not getting screened was "just because" at 43.3%, the most common, followed by "busy" (11.9%)
The reasons for not undergoing cervical cancer screening within the past 2 years were "just because" (43.3%), the most common, followed by "busy" (11.9%) and "having no symptoms" (11.4%). A trend was also confirmed where the proportion of "just because" increases as the unscreened period lengthens. Regarding the second most common reason, "busy", the proportion reached 22.1% among the segment that had been screened within the previous 3 to 5 years, significantly exceeding the overall average (11.9%) of those not screened within 2 years (Chart 1). It is evident that for this segment, time constraints serve as a major physical barrier to getting screened.
On the other hand, more than 80% of the segment that has not been screened in the past 2 years but has screening experience in the past recognizes the "necessity of regular screening" (Chart 2). To bridge the gap between this "high awareness of the necessity of regular screening" and "actual behavior", it is considered necessary not only to raise individual awareness but also to structurally improve the psychological and physical hurdles that prevent screening, prompting concrete screening behaviors from the segment in the screening stagnation phase.
(Chart 1) To those who have not undergone cervical cancer screening within the past 2 years. Please tell us the reason why you did not undergo the cervical cancer screening. (The most applicable reason)