You’ve probably been hearing a lot lately about cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV vaccine. It’s important for every woman to be informed what the risks of cervical cancer are and what she can do about it.Â

Cervical cancer is a dangerous type of cancer that occurs in the lower part of the uterus, also called the cervix, of females. Unlike other cancers, 100 % of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV, a series of common viruses. If you can protect yourself against HPV, you can prevent getting a painful and possibly deadly cancer.

So what exactly is HPV? The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a used to describe 100 different strains of a common virus, 40 of which infect the sexual organs. The types of HPV that affect the genitals are transmitted through sexual contact. Unlike many other STD’s, only the non-dangerous strains of HPV have visible symptoms (genital warts), so men and women tend to spread HPV without ever knowing that they have it. Without treatment, some strains of HPV can develop into cervical cancer, often before you’re even aware you have it. You can only contract HPV through mucous membrane contact during sexual intercourse and other sexual contact. You can’t get it through the air, by shaking hands, by sitting on toilet seats, or through other normally encountered methods of transmission.Â

Recently, two vaccines have come on the market that are able to prevent certain types of HPV. This means that if you get the vaccine soon enough, you should be able to greatly reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer. One downside to the vaccines is that they may take up to 5 years to be fully effective, which is why many doctors suggest getting a vaccine well before you become sexually active. Some advocates are even trying to make it mandatory for young women to be inoculated at the age of 12 or younger.Â

Besides the vaccine, there are a few other ways to prevent yourself from contracting HPV. The most obvious way is to abstain from sexual contact. The risk of HPV is reduced by using a condom, however, it is not eliminated. Because HPV is spread through membrane contact, condoms are actually less effective at preventing the spread of HPV than other STD’s. Because they cover more area than a male condom, female condoms are actually the best barrier method for stopping the spread of HPV. However, it is still not 100% effective and you must use a female condom every time. Other forms of birth control, including diaphragms, sponges, and hormonal birth control, provide no protection against HPV.

The best way to prevent cervical cancer is actually regular screening done through pap smears. The HPV vaccine does not protect against the more rare strains of HPV, and it isn’t 100% effective. Even if you’ve gotten the vaccine, you can still develop cervical cancer. Getting a yearly PAP smear can detect precancerous cells. If you detect the cells before they become cancerous, your chances of having a successful treatment are much greater.  Â

Now that you have all the information, you can make an informed decision about your health and the prevention of cervical cancer.

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