News & Events

January Monthly Health Article

1-1-12

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month
 

Cervical Cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women worldwide.  Like many forms of cancer, if cervical cancer is diagnosed early, cure rates are much higher.  It is possible to screen for precancer or cancer of the cervix with the pap smear or pap test.  Use of the pap smear has dramatically reduced the number of cancer deaths in the United States since first used in the 1940’s. Nearly all cervical cancers are related to infection with a sexually transmitted virus known as human papilloma virus or HPV.
In addition to the pap test, there are tests health care providers can use to detect the presence of HPV. 
Within the past decade, a vaccine against HPV has become available.  Though this vaccine is not 100% effective, it is recommended for girls and women between ages 9 and 26.  Vaccination decreases the risk of cervical cancer, but women who have had the HPV vaccine still need to have cervical cancer screening with the pap test.  Previously it was recommended that all women should have a pap smear ever year to screen for cervical cancer.  Recently, however, experts have recommended the screening frequency be decreased in many women to every three years.  

It is important all women have a conversation with their physician regarding when to start screening with the pap test, how frequently to screen and when to stop screening in order to meet their individual health care needs. 

Ryan M. Harden, MD

Gateway Family Health Clinic, Ltd