Things to know about Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer type in women. In 2018, an estimated 570 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 311 000 women died from the disease. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types is the main cause of cervical cancer.

The United States Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. The idea is to highlight issues related to cervical cancer, HPV disease and the importance of early detection.

According to the National Cervical Cancer care Coalition, here are a few important things to know about cervical cancer.

1. HPV is common: Most sexually active individuals have HPV at one point. At any time, there are approximately 79 million people (in the United States alone) with HPV.
2. Different types: Some types of HPV can cause genital warts while some other different types are linked to cervical cell changes that, if not detected early, can increase a woman’s risk for cervical cancer. HPV also causes some cancers of the penis, anus, vagina, vulva, and throat. HPV infections are usually harmless though, and most are cleared naturally by the body in a year or two.
3. Vaccination: HPV vaccines can help prevent infection from both high risk HPV types that can lead to cervical cancer and low risk types that cause genital warts. The CDC recommends all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine at the age of 11 or 12, but vaccination is available through age 26. The vaccine produces a stronger immune response when taken during the preteen years. So if you take the vaccine before age 14, only two doses are needed. For those 15 years and older, a full three dose series is needed.
4. Transmission: HPV is sually passed by genital-to-genital and genital-to-anal cpntact (even without penetration). The virus can also be transmitted by oral to genital contact, although this may be less common. Studies show that male condoms can reduce HPV transmission to females, although condoms only protect the skin they cover.
5. Testing: A pap test can find cell changes to the cervix caused by HPV. HPV tests find the virus and help healthcare providers know which women are at at highest risk for cervical cancer. A pap/HPV co-test is recommended for women 30 and over. One HPV test has been approved for use as primary cervical screening for women age 25 and older.
6. Treatment: There’s no treatment for the virus itself, but healthcare providers have plenty of options to treat diseases caused by HPV.
7. Relationships: It can take weeks, months, or even years after exposure to HPV before symptoms develop or the virus is detected. This is why it is usually impossible to determine when or from whom HPV may have been contracted. A recent diagnosis of HPV does not necessarily mean anyone has been unfaithful, even in a long-term relationship spanning years.
8. Pregnancy: Pregnant women with HPV almost always have natural deliveries and healthy babies. It is very rare for a newborn to get HPV from the mother.
9. The emotional side: It can be upsetting when HPV is first diagnosed, but remember that having HPV is normal. It doesn’t mean that anyone did something wrong, just that like many others, they were exposed to a common infection. In the U.S alone there are 14 million new HPV infections annually.