Cervical Cancer 

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer. It’s important for women to know the options they have to stop cervical cancer before it starts. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes cervical cancer? 

Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection. It can change the cells in the cervix so that they become cancerous.

Who is at risk of getting cervical cancer?

Because HPV causes the majority of cervical cancers, your risk of cervical cancer is directly tied to your risk of HPV. 

Patients are at increased risk of being infected with HPV if:

• They have had many sexual partners 
• They first had sex under the age of 18 
• They have an illness that harms their immune system, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 

Additional risk factors 

If you have been diagnosed with HPV, other factors can increase your risk of cervical cancer. These include:

• Smoking 
• Taking oral birth control pills 
• Being pregnant and giving birth many times 

How can I lower my risk of cervical cancer?

There are two things you can do to lower your risk of cervical cancer:

• Get vaccinated for HPV 
• Have regular Pap tests to check for signs of cancer. 

The HPV vaccine was released in 2006. It is safe and effective at preventing both HPV infection and cervical cancer. A recent study showed that cases of cervical cancer have decreased significantly in vaccinated women.

Many children now receive the HPV vaccine as part of their routine vaccinations. The vaccine is given around the age of twelve. If you are older than 26 years old and have not been vaccinated, talk to your doctor to see if you could still benefit from getting the vaccine. In some cases, it is a good option for adults to reduce their cancer risk.

Regular Pap tests are also key to preventing cervical cancer. They can catch abnormal cells in the cervix before they become cancerous.