North Central Health District

Cervical Cancer Awareness

Posted January 21, 2016 by NCHD Admin

According to the Center for Disease Control, women are prone to develop cervical cancer if they have been exposed to Human Papillomavirus (HPV). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. This is why the HPV vaccine is strongly recommended.

Here are a few things you should know about your cervical health:

• Have your first Pap test when you’re 21. If your rest results are normal, you can wait 3 years for your next Pap test. HPV tests aren’t recommended for screening women under 30.
• Women who are 30 with normal test results can either get a Pap test every 3 years OR get both a Pap test and an HPV test every 5 years.
• You do not have to get screened if you are older than 65 and have normal Pap test results for many years OR your cervix has been removed during surgery for a non-cancerous condition like fibroids.

It’s important to get tested because screening tests can find abnormal cells that can be treated before they turn into cancer. The Pap test looks for changes in cells on the cervix that may have changed due to the exposure of HPV. HPV is a very common virus and is passed from one person to another during sex. Most people get it, but it usually goes away on its own. However, if it does not go away, it can cause cancer.

For more information on cervical cancer screenings, please visit: https://www.northcentralhealthdistrict.org and look for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP). Or, you can contact your local health department for more information.