A New Year to Learn the Best Defense Against Cervical Cancer

Despite being one of the most preventable cancers, cervical cancer is persistently the second leading cause of cancer death in women aged 20 to 39 years. Nearly 14,000 American women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and just over 4,000 of them died from the disease.

The good news is that, thanks to screenings, the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased by more than one half since the mid-1970s. Also contributing to the declining numbers are screenings for human papillomavirus (HPV) and the introduction of a vaccine for the two strains of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancers.

Today, screenings for cervical cancer often include Pap test and a test for HPV. In both cases, cells are taken from the cervix and sent to a lab for testing. The HPV test is a recent but important add to screenings as 8 out of 10 people will contract a form of HPV in their lifetime. The test doesn't tell you whether you have cancer, but it does detect the presence of HPV in your system. If it’s determined you have a high-risk type of HPV, your doctor can develop a plan for follow-up monitoring, further testing or even treatment of abnormal cells.

HPV tests are not recommended for anyone under the age of 30 due to the fact most women develop a natural-immune response to exposure by that age. But, up to age 26, vaccines are an extremely important preventive measure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when given to boys and girls between 9 and 12 years old, the vaccine has the potential to prevent more than 90% of HPV-attributable cancers when they get older. In addition to protecting both males and females from cancer, the vaccine helps prevent the development of skin conditions, such as genital warts.

Teens and young adults aged 13 through 26 who have not been vaccinated, or who haven’t gotten all their doses, should get the vaccine as soon as possible.

While the vaccine works to prevent HPV-related cancers, regular cervical cancer screenings are still recommended.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers guidelines (below) for scheduling cervical cancer screenings. However, because everyone’s care needs and risk are so individual, you should speak to your care provider about developing the ideal testing schedule for you. In addition, even if your cervical screening schedule calls for a screening every 3-5 years, you should see your provider annually for birth control counseling, vaccinations, health screenings, pre-pregnancy care, and the latest information about your reproductive health.

Themarge Small, MD, FACOG, is an obstetrics & gynecology specialist at SVMC.