Take the Quiz: Cervical Cancer

The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is being infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 200 types of HPV. Of those, the high-risk types, including HPV 16 and HPV 18, are strongly linked to cancer.

Infection with HPV is common. In most people the body can clear the infection by itself. But sometimes the infection doesn't go away and becomes chronic. Chronic infection with HPV, especially when it’s caused by certain high-risk types, can cause certain cancers over time, including cervical cancer.

The two ways to help prevent cervical cancer are getting a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine if you are eligible and getting regular screening tests. 

HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer and precancers. Vaccines are available that can help prevent infection by certain types of HPV, including the types most strongly linked to cervical cancer. The vaccines only work to prevent HPV infection − they will not treat an infection that’s already there. So, to work best, the HPV vaccine should be given before a person is exposed to HPV. The ACS recommends boys and girls get the HPV vaccine between ages 9 and 12. Teens and young adults ages 13 to 26 years who have not received the HPV vaccine or who have not received all of their shots should get the vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccination of young adults will not prevent as many cancers as vaccination of children and teens.

Getting regular screening tests with the HPV test or the Pap test can find precancers before they can turn into cancer. Cervical cancers start from cells with pre-cancerous changes. The change from cervical precancer to cervical cancer usually takes many years.  Treating precancers can prevent almost all invasive cancers. 

The Pap test can find precancers or cancers in the cervix. It cannot find HPV. The HPV test looks for cervical HPV infections, particularly the high-risk types that can cause precancers and cancer. The HPV test is better at finding cancer and precancer than a Pap test. It can be done either by itself (primary HPV testing) or at the same time as a Pap test (co-testing). How often you need screening depends on the test you have done.  But the most important thing to remember is to get screened regularly, no matter which test you get. 

For decades, people were told to get a Pap test once a year to check for cervical cancer. That advice has changed. We now know that HPV testing, when available, is better because it finds more precancers early. When HPV testing is not available, a Pap test is still a safe and effective option for cervical cancer screening.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women and other individuals with a cervix at average risk for cervical cancer begin cervical cancer testing (screening) at age 25 and continue until at least age 65. Screening should be done every 3 to 5 years, depending on the test. Test options include:

• A primary HPV test (HPV test alone) on a cervical sample collected by a health care provider every 5 years (the preferred option).
• A primary HPV test done on a self-collected vaginal sample every 3 years.
• A co-test (HPV test combined with a Pap test) every 5 years.
• A Pap test alone every 3 years, if HPV testing isn’t available.

Getting screened regularly is the most important thing, no matter which test you get.

There’s no treatment for the HPV infection itself. But most genital HPV infections go away with the help of a person’s immune system within about 2 years.

Even though HPV can't be treated, the cell changes caused by an HPV infection can be. For instance, precancerous changes found by Pap tests can be treated to keep them from turning into cancer over time.

Early cervical cancers and precancers hardly ever cause changes that a person would notice. As the cancer grows and spreads into nearby tissues, it may cause abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding and/or pain during sex.

Regular screening tests and pelvic exams are important because many times there are no symptoms of this cancer.

If you’ve had a total hysterectomy (which includes taking out the uterus and cervix), you no longer have a cervix and can stop cervical cancer screening, unless the hysterectomy was done to treat cervical precancer or cancer.

If you’ve had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix (called a partial or subtotal hysterectomy), you should continue cervical cancer screening according to the American Cancer Society guidelines.