How you can help prevent CERVICAL CANCER|Your Self chec Keeping Healthy Guide

How you can help prevent
CERVICAL CANCER

Your Self chec Keeping Healthy Guide

Cervical Cancer is nearly 100% preventable. Annual check-ups and early detection through a Pap screening test is a woman’s best way of staying healthy.

What to do

Protect yourself. Limit your sexual partners and use condoms. Research has shown that some women who began having sexual intercourse before age 18 and have had many sexual partners, may have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Talk to your doctor if you fall into this category, about how often you should get a Pap test.

Talk to your pre-teen and teenage daughters about getting the HPV vaccine before they become sexually active. The HPV vaccine is nearly 100% effective in preventing those HPV viruses that are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers. It is recommended as a routine vaccination for girls’ ages 11 and 12 and an immunization for all females ages 9 to 26. If you or your daughters have questions about the best thing to do, talk to your doctor to make an informed decision.

Beginning at age 21, (or 3 years after you become sexually active), have a Pap test and Pelvic exam at least once every three years.

Beginning at age 65 to 70, ask your doctor if you need to continue getting regular Pap tests and Pelvic exams.

IMPORTANT: The information on the cancer pages of this site was culled by the director of Self chec and initially reviewed by the folks at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on the newest information from the national cancer advisory organizations, including, but not limited to, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and American Cancer Society. We recognize that the national cancer advisory organizations sometimes do not agree about specific cancer guidelines, often making it confusing to the public about what to do. That is why we are asking you to err on the side of caution by always consulting a healthcare professional to advise you in the healthy choices you will make. Thank you.

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