HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a virus that causes cervical cancer in some women. It is highly contagious and is one of the most common STDs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As many as nine out of ten people will contract HPV at some point in life, but not every woman who catches HPV will develop cervical cancer. HPV infections tend to occur most often in younger women and are not commonly seen in women over the age of 30 years, according to the American Cancer Society.
Instructions
1. Learn all you can about HPV, safe sex and cervical cancer. Discuss your risk factors with your doctor. While family history, age, diet, a history of multiple pregnancies, and other factors may increase your risk for developing cervical cancer, the American Cancer Society states that HPV infection is the most important risk factor.
2. Wear condoms every time you have sex. HPV is transmitted sexually, and proper condom use can help prevent infection with HPV and significantly lower your risk of cervical cancer. However, condoms provide only partial protection against cervical cancer caused by HPV, according to the American Cancer Society. This is because HPV can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with areas of the body that are not covered by a condom.
3. Get regular pap smears. These gynecological tests check for abnormal cell changes on the cervix. Pap smears should be done every three years in healthy women, and they should be done every year in anyone with a history of abnormal test results.
4. Follow up with your doctor if your pap smear comes back abnormal. An abnormal pap smear does not necessarily mean you have cancer. It simply means changes have been detected in your cervical cells that require treatment. If your pap smear is abnormal, your doctor may also perform a specialized test for HPV.
5. Ask your doctor about being vaccinated against the HPV virus. The HPV vaccine protects against two strains of HPV that are responsible for nearly three-quarters of cervical cancer. Only one vaccine against cervical cancer and HPV has been approved for use in the United States, but more HPV vaccines are currently being developed, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Tags: cervical cancer, your doctor, American Cancer, American Cancer Society, Cancer Society, your risk
