6 Tips For Preventing Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer used to be one of the most common causes of cancer deaths for women in the United States. Now it is not even in the top ten. The frequency of cervical cancer has been declining in the United States by almost 4% per year. Utah cervical cancer rates are the lowest of the 48 states reporting at 4.5 cases per 100,000 persons. While this is an encouraging statistic, in 2007, the most recent year statistics are available, 51 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in Utah.

Much is known about the causes of cervical cancer today. While treatments have become increasingly effective at reducing the number of cancer deaths, the best strategies focus on preventing the cancer in the first place. Most cervical cancers are caused by exposure to high risk strains of the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). The virus is transmitted through sexual contact. It is known to infect and cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus and throat. HPV infection is often completely asymptomatic so women do not even know that they have been exposed. In some cases the HPV virus may cause warts to appear on the genitals.

Here are some of the things women and girls can do to prevent cervical cancer:

1. Avoid having multiple sexual partners and initiating sexual activity at a young age. Studies have shown that sexual intercourse before the age of 18 increases a woman’s risk of getting cervical cancer. This may be because younger women’s less mature cervical cells are more susceptible to the effects of the HPV virus. More sexual partners also correlates with higher cervical cancer risk. Women should consider that each sexual partner she has exposes her to the HPV of every sexual partner that he has had before her. According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control) more than 50% of sexually active adults have been infected with the HPV virus and 6 million people are infected every year.

2. Get vaccinated. There are two vaccines against HPV now on the market, Gardasil and Cervarix. Girls and boys can be vaccinated as early age 9 before they are exposed to HPV infection. The vaccines are safe and effective at preventing infection by the highest risk HPV strains. Parents who do not vaccinate because they believe their daughters will have only one sexual partner in their lifetime should keep in mind that they have no control over what their daughter’s future mate may expose her to. Unfortunately, there are many circumstances beyond a woman’s control that may result in an HPV exposure during her lifetime. HPV vaccination is a good insurance policy “just in case” an unwanted or unavoidable exposure occurs.

3. Don’t smoke. Tobacco use greatly increases the risk of precancerous cells developing and progressing in women and girls who have the HPV virus. Women who smoke are nearly twice as likely as non smokers to get cervical cancer. Lower rates of tobacco use in Utah probably account for some of the reduction in cervical cancer in the state.

4. Get your pap test. All women should begin getting pap smears by age 21. Pap smears detect changes in the cells on a woman’s cervix before they become cancer. In some cases these cells are removed surgically or destroyed by freezing in order to prevent cervical cancer. In my own practice, almost all of the cervical cancers I have seen were diagnosed in women who had gone for several years without getting a pap smear.

5. Eat healthy. Good nutrition strengthens your immune system to fight off all kinds of infection, including HPV. According to the American Cancer Society, eating at least five daily servings of vegetables and fruits can lower cancer risk.

6. Condoms use. Abstinence is the only 100% effective method for preventing HPV infection. Condoms greatly reduce the rate of HPV infection when used every time.

Following these simple guidelines greatly reduces a woman’s risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Terence Heath, MD is a board certified OB/GYN who practices in Cedar City at the Cedar City Institute of Women’s Health, (435) 865-9500. He also has clinic hours every other week in Richfield, Utah.