Cervical Cancer Prevention

How can I help prevent cervical cancer?

To help reduce your risk of cervical cancer:

• Try to avoid exposure to HPV. Do not have more than one sexual partner. It will also help if your partner has not been sexually active with anyone else. Find out if your partner has had any sexually transmitted diseases. You can get some protection from HPV by using latex or polyurethane condoms every time you have sexual intercourse. However, condoms do not completely protect against this infection, which can be spread from other parts of the body.

• Ask your provider about getting the shot (Gardasil) that prevents the types of HPV infection that are a high risk for cervical cancer.

• If you are or have ever been sexually active, you should have regular pelvic exams, including a Pap test. The Pap test can find cell changes in the cervix caused by HPV. Treatment of these cell changes can prevent cervical cancer. Ask your provider how often you should have a Pap test.

• If you have a Pap test with abnormal results, follow your provider's recommendations for treatment.

• Do not smoke.

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Finally, on cervical cancer prevention...

Women over 40, for all of you who have sexually active daughters, HPV is a major threat now. Recently a young woman in her early 20’s came to me in distress because her doctor said she had cancer of her uterus, she thinks. She did not understand anything except the word cancer and knew very little about that as well.

I was able to obtain her permission to speak with her gynecologist for clarification. She did not have cancer. The doctor was attempting to educate her about HPV, getting the Gardisil shot and preventing cancer. She and I were both relieved.

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