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January is Cervical Health Awareness Month
Protect Yourself from Cervical Cancer:
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Three preventive services for women covered by health insurance are the pap smear, pelvic exam, and the human papillomavirus (HPV) test. Each looks for abnormal cells before they turn into a serious condition like cervical cancer.
The Pap smear is a routine outpatient cervical cancer screening that women have been getting for decades. It’s recommended that women start getting Pap smears at age 21. The Pap test looks for changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer. During the short procedure, your doctor collects cells and mucus from your cervix and the surrounding areas. The samples are sent to a laboratory for review by a pathologist.
For women 30 or older, the HPV test can be done at the same time as the Pap test. The human papilloma virus is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer cases in the United States. There are many types of HPV, and it’s the most common sexually transmitted infection in the nation.
During an HPV test, your doctor checks the cervix for the HPV virus. The virus can cause abnormal cells, which could lead to cervical cancer.
Pelvic exams look for signs of disease in the pelvic area. Doctors use pelvic exams to check your:
Cervix
Fallopian tubes
Ovaries
Rectum
Uterus
Vulva
Cervical cancer starts in the cells lining the cervix, which is the lower, narrow end of a woman’s uterus. It is a preventable disease if women have routine screenings and receive HPV vaccines.
The American Cancer Society suggests women have regular health screenings to detect pre-cancers and abnormal cells before they become cancerous. Tests like the Pap and HPV tests are proven methods that help doctors find abnormal cells.
Several factors can boost a woman’s risk for cervical cancer:
HPV infection
Weak immune system
DES exposure (synthetic estrogen hormone)
Remember, Pap smears and pelvic exams check for different things. They can be done separately or at the same time by an OB/GYN. Your routine pelvic exam is also covered by your health insurance. By now it should be clear why having a routine Pap smear, pelvic exam, and HPV test is important. Early detection screenings are key to helping you stay healthy.
For more information on cervical cancer screenings, read here.
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