Updated on June 18, 2024.
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix is the bottom part of the uterus (womb). It connects to the vagina.
Each year, thousands of people in the United States are found to have cervical cancer. Many die from the disease.
But these numbers have gotten better over the years. There are fewer cases of cervical cancer and it causes fewer deaths. This is mostly because of two things.
- Better prevention: You can lower your risk by taking a few key steps. These may include making healthy changes to your life.
- Routine screenings: If you have cervical cancer, it’s important to find it early. That’s when treatment is most possible. The best way to find it early is through regular screenings. A screening is a test that looks for signs of a disease before symptoms appear. It’s for someone who does not seem sick.
Many people don’t know that they can lower their risk. Here’s what you can do.
Get the HPV vaccine
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus. It causes an infection. It can spread when your skin touches someone else skin. This may happen during sex.
Some kinds of HPV can lead to different types of cancer. These include cancer of the following body parts.
- Cervix
- Vagina
- Penis
- Anus
- Lips or mouth
You can get a vaccine for HPV. It works very well and can help protect against these cancers. These vaccines begin in childhood. Here is when to get them.
- All boys and girls should get the two-dose vaccine. This should happen between the ages of 9 and 12.
- If you start getting vaccines on or after your 15th birthday, you should get three doses.
- Some people can get the vaccine up until age 45.
What if you already have HPV? You should still get the vaccine if you’re under the age limit. That’s because it protects against several different types of the virus.
Go for routine screenings
Screenings can help find cervical cancer early. When it’s found early, treatment may work better.
Screening involves Pap testing, or “Pap smears.” These start at age 21. During a Pap test, a healthcare provider (HCP) will:
- Ask you to lie on an exam table with your legs in stirrups
- Use a special tool to open your vagina, called a speculum
- Look at your cervix
- Use a brush or another tool to gently scrape some cervical cells
- Send these cells to a lab for testing
You should go for Pap tests regularly. How often depends on your age.
Before age 30: Every three years
After age 30:
- Every three years for a Pap test alone
- Every five years for a Pap test in combination with an HPV test
You may also get an HPV test alone every five years.
Practice safe sex
Each time you have sex with a new person, you may come into contact with HPV. Having fewer partners can reduce your risk. It can also lower your chances of other infections that are spread through sex. These are called STIs.
If you have sex with more than one partner, use a condom. Do this even if you’re on birth control. A condom helps protect against HPV and other STIs. It is always worth using. But be aware that HPV can infect areas that aren’t covered by a condom, like the mouth and throat.
So, use protection during oral sex as well. If you’re going to perform oral sex on a male partner, have him wear a condom. For a female partner, use a dental dam. That is a piece of latex that may be used as a barrier.
If you’re in a relationship, talk to your partner about if you’ll only have sex with each other. If you think that your partner has been having sex with others, both of you should get tested for STIs.
Get help quitting tobacco
Smoking can make HPV worse. It can also increase the risk of many cancers. This includes cervical cancer. In fact, women who smoke are more than twice as likely to have the disease, compared to women who don’t smoke.
Having a partner who smokes can increase your risk, too.
For help quitting tobacco, speak with your HCP.
Talk to an HCP with any questions you may have. Remember that the best ways to protect yourself are to get the vaccine and go to routine screenings.
