Common gynecological diseases are those affecting the female reproductive organs or breasts, which significantly impact women's health.1 They mainly include cervical and breast diseases, reproductive tract infections, and other reproductive system diseases. Symptoms often include irregular menstruation, white vaginal discharge, itching of the external genitalia, burning sensation during urination, and groin area swelling. These symptoms cause significant distress and pain in daily life. Severe cases can also affect fertility, and reproductive functions, potentially leading to death.2
Over the past 30 years, significant progress has been made in global women's health, with substantial resources and political attention dedicated to improving maternal health. However, benign gynecological diseases continue to severely impair quality of life for women.3 Gynecological diseases account for approximately 4.5% of the global disease burden, surpassing the incidence and disability caused by other major global health priorities such as maternal health, tuberculosis, malaria, and cardiovascular diseases.4
Screening for common gynecological diseases in women helps to identify reproductive tract infections, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and other conditions at an early stage, enabling prompt treatment and improved prognosis. Many countries worldwide have successfully implemented long-term and sustained screening programs for common gynecological diseases, yielding significant results.5–8 In high-income countries like the United States, cervical and breast cancer mortality rates have declined in recent years due to widespread screening programs. These programs facilitate early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, providing women with increased opportunities to access high-quality gynecological care. However, in resource-poor countries, women often have limited or no access to specialized care.9 Additionally, in many countries, deep-rooted gender biases and inequalities result in a lack of prioritization for women's health.10–12
The Chinese government has consistently focused on early diagnosis and treatment of common gynecological diseases. It explicitly stipulated that the prevention and treatment of common gynecological diseases are an important component of primary healthcare for women and children.13 Under the government leadership, China has implemented, organized, and sustained screening programs for common gynecological diseases targeting women. Grassroot healthcare workers collect and report relevant data on annual screening for these diseases to the central authorities. The data mainly comes from public health service programs in China, such as cervical and breast cancer screening, screening for common gynecological diseases, pre-pregnancy health promotion, and premarital medical examinations. Diseases covered include urinary fistula, second-degree or higher uterine prolapse, trichomoniasis, cervicitis, condyloma acuminatum, HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.14
Since the 1950s, China has initiated comprehensive screening programs for common gynecological diseases among women, making significant progress in areas including sexually transmitted infections such as trichomoniasis, uterine prolapse, urinary fistula, menstrual disorders, and cervical cancer.15–17 In the early 1970s, China implemented the family planning policy, which focused on birth control and encompassed sexual education, preconception counseling and management, prenatal care, infertility treatment, sterilization, and induced abortion services related to reproductive health. During this period, screening for common gynecological diseases was mainly conducted in conjunction with family planning initiatives and carried out by personnel from the family planning department.18,19
In 2006, the National Health Commission of China emphasized the importance of actively conducting comprehensive screening and treatment programs for common gynecological diseases such as reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer, and breast diseases.20 In 2010, the government set a target for China to achieve an 80% coverage rate of screening for common gynecological diseases by 2020.21
However, in 2013, China underwent a large-scale government institutional reform by merging the Ministry of Health and the National Population and Family Planning Commission into the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC).22 The reform aims to strengthen the integration of maternal and child health and family planning technology service resources, and further promote the construction of the maternal and child health service system. Following the reform, the NHFPC carried out a series of maternal and child health and family planning initiatives including improving service networks and enhancing training for professionals in the field.
In early 2014, China officially implemented the "Two-Child Policy," in response to the demographic situation. This policy allowed families with one child only to have a second child, provided the first pregnancy was not a multiple birth.23 The relaxation of this family planning policy had a significant impact on the screening of common gynecological diseases, shifting the primary focus of the screening work away from contraception and birth control.24 Previously, under the traditional family planning policy, the screening of common gynecological diseases was closely tied to contraception and birth control. The government and medical institutions included the screening of these diseases as part of their family planning services with the aim to help women maintain their health and control their fertility. However, with the implementation of the "Two-Child Policy," the screening of common gynecological diseases was no longer limited to contraception and birth control. Instead, it now focuses more on women's health and disease prevention. Consequently, the goals and priorities of screening for common gynecological diseases have been adjusted following the implementation of the "Two-Child Policy." In addition to addressing contraception and birth control needs, the screening work emphasizes early detection and treatment of gynecological diseases, such as cervical and breast cancer, and endometriosis to improve women's overall health. To achieve these objectives, the government, and medical institutions aim to strengthen women's health promotion and education, and provide more comprehensive screening and treatment services for common gynecological diseases to meet the diverse needs of women.
In 2016, China introduced the "Healthy China 2030" Planning Outline with the aim of achieving high-quality universal health coverage by 2030.25 In 2019, the Chinese government issued the "Healthy China Action (2019–2030)" as a strategic framework for advancing national health.26 The same year witnessed the inclusion of the "Two Cancers" screening program for rural women in the government’s management of essential public health service projects. This inclusion further facilitated the normalization and institutionalization of screening practice for common gynecological diseases among women.27
It is evident that significant policies enacted by China at different stages of development have put forth different requirements for the implementation of screening for common gynecological diseases, ensuring the continuous implementation of such screening initiatives. These policies have also influenced the implementation of screening initiatives to varying degrees (Fig. 1).28 Thus, this study aimed to improve the provision of continuous and stable healthcare services for women. We utilized the gynecological common disease examination data published in the "China Health and Health Statistical Yearbook" from 2007 to 2020. We employed the Interrupted Time Series (ITS) method using segmented linear regression to analyze the changing trends in the gynecological common disease examination work in China under the influence of policy changes. Specifically, we examined the impact of the 2014 relaxation of the family planning policy, the major reforms in the health sector, and the elevation of the "Healthy China Strategy" to a basic national strategy in 2017. This study aimed to review the historical evolution and achievements of gynecological disease screening in China, explore the current challenges and difficulties faced in implementing this work, analyze the possible next steps and priorities, and provide scientific evidence for the Chinese government and other countries for formulating policies related to the prevention and treatment of common gynecological diseases.