The United States Congress has designated January as Cervical Health Awareness month. Each year almost 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the US alone, despite the fact that some forms of the condition can be prevented through regular screening.
That astonishing figure doesn’t take into consideration the number of reported sexually transmitted diseases in the US. At least half of all sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV at some time during their lives. High-risk forms of HPV can cause growths on tissues of a woman’s cervix that, over time, can lead to cervical cancer.
The most common test for detection of cervical abnormalities is the Pap Test. The Pap is generally performed by a physician at least once in every three-year period for females under the age of 21 who have been sexually active for three years and for all women over the age of 21. The Pap is generally discontinued once a women reaches the age of 65; however, that decision is best left to the primary care physician performing the test.
There are newer tests available for human papillomavirus (HPV) that can be used in conjunction with a Pap in women 30 years of age or in older women when a Pap is found to be even slightly abnormal. The purpose of the new HPV testing is to collect cervical cells that can be examined under a microscope in a laboratory for better analysis. HPV is rather common in women under the age of 30, while cervical cancer is extremely rare at this age. And, most women with HPV will be successfully treated by eradicating the virus. After 30, HPV is uncommon. Positive testing in women is often simply an indication they acquired it years prior but their immune systems didn’t overcome it. Therefore, testing for HPV is extremely helpful in identifying high-risk types commonly found in cervical cancer.
Interestingly, numerous studies have linked douching with a 73% increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and an 86% increased risk of cervical cancer. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women should avoid douching because it can hide symptoms of an infection or can push the infection higher into the reproductive tract.
Practice safe sex to prevent both unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Both heterosexual and homosexual couples are at risk and while condoms aren’t 100% effective, they go a long way toward preventing the spread of HPV. The HPV vaccine Gardasil can protect against common sub-strains of HPV that is known to cause cervical cancer. The vaccine is currently FDA approved for females between the age of 9 and 26, with a target age of 11 to 12. If you have a child in this age group, ask her physician if the vaccine is right for her.
It’s the beginning of a new year. All women should make a resolution to have regular Pap smears if they don’t already do so. If abnormalities are detected, be guided by what your physician is recommending. Be proactive in your good health. Don’t let a lack of insurance coverage, a busy schedule or other seemingly important issues keep you from remaining healthy. There’s simply nothing more important that remaining healthy. If you receive a clean bill of health, you can relax; but be certain to ask your physician when you should have a follow-up appointment. You’ll be glad you made the effort.
