A Resolution for Good Cervical Health

As another new year gets underway, one resolution a woman can make is to see a healthcare provider and undergo a pelvic examination and Pap smear to help prevent cervical cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, 12,900 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2015, with approximately 4,100 deaths. Unfortunately, many of these deaths could have been prevented through screening with Pap smears or vaccination with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

HPV is the major cause of genital warts, precancerous cervical changes and cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that is sexually transmitted. Fortunately, our immune system usually clears an HPV infection. If the virus is not cleared, precancerous changes and perhaps a cancer can occur.

Pap smears detect precancerous changes that occur in cells. Treatment can prevent precancerous changes from becoming cervical cancer. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women begin annual screening for cervical cancer at age 21. Pap smear screening should be done every three years. If HPV testing is performed in addition to the Pap smear, testing may be able to be extended to every five years. HPV testing should not be performed in women younger than 30. Women who are 65 years or older with a history of adequate screening, no abnormal findings and no risk factors for cervical cancer no longer require screening. A woman should consult with her doctor about the frequency of screening, as it depends on age, results from prior testing, family history and other health factors.

Vaccination with the HPV vaccine can prevent an HPV infection in young women and men. Studies have shown that the vaccine is safe and effective but needs to be given before infection with HPV has occurred. Vaccinations are given in three doses over a six-month period. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that HPV vaccination for girls begin routinely at ages 11 or 12 or given to females aged 13 to 26 who have not yet been vaccinated. Vaccination for males can be given between the ages of 9 and 26.

A woman should also know the warning signs of cervical cancer, which can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge and bleeding after intercourse. Along with seeking care for any of these symptoms, a woman should discuss and maintain routine and appropriate screenings with her doctor, as cervical cancer, when detected early can be treated and cured.

Darlene G. Gibbon, MD, is the Chief of Gynecologic Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; and an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.