In January, health care providers want to remind women of all ages about the importance of monitoring the health of their cervix. The cervix is the lower end of the uterus and connects the uterus to the vagina. Through routine screening, detecting changes in cervical cells leads to early treatment – before those cells become cancerous.

What causes cervical cancer?

A virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) is strongly linked to cervical cancer, and most cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV. This infection is common and goes away on its own most of the time. In some cases, HPV may lead to cervical cancer. It is important to know that most women with HPV do not develop cervical cancer.

Please talk to your doctor if you have other risk factors for cervical cancer, including:

• Smoking
• Being overweight
• Long-term use of birth control pills (oral contraceptives)
• Having other sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia or herpes
• Having multiple full-term pregnancies
• Having a full-term pregnancy before age 17
• Family history of cervical cancer
• Other lifestyle factors such diet and activity

Can you prevent cervical cancer?

There are several ways to reduce your risk for developing cervical cancer. First, get a routine Pap test, which helps detect changes in the cells before they become cancer. The earlier these changes are caught, the easier to treat!

You can also get vaccinated against HPV. The vaccine only works before you ever get infected, so it is recommended that girls and boys ages 9-14 get the two-dose vaccination. If the vaccine is given to anyone ages 15-26, a three-dose schedule is recommended.

Don’t smoke. Women who smoke are about twice as likely to get cervical cancer than women who don’t. Smoking tobacco is strongly linked to cervical cancer and precancer.

Lastly, make sure to use condoms correctly every time you have sex. Condoms offer some protection from HPV, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases.

Diagnosis and treatment options

During a routine Pap test, some cells are scraped from the cervix and checked for changes that could lead to cancer. Discuss with your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms like abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, or pain or bleeding during sex. If there is a diagnosis, treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapy.

Talk with your doctor about the best strategy to stay healthy, including how often to get a Pap test. A healthy lifestyle and routine screenings offer women of all ages a lot of protection.