In the past, cervical cancer was one of the most common causes of death for women. Today, doctors are able to catch and treat cervical cancer much earlier.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and so we’re highlighting some important facts to know about cervical cancer in this mini-series. Today’s post is about early detection. In case you missed it, last week’s post laid out the basic facts about cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer rarely causes symptoms in the early stages. When it does cause symptoms, they’re generally mild and easy to mistake for the symptoms of other, less serious, conditions. This means it’s very difficult to detect cervical cancer based on symptoms, particularly in its early stages.

Fortunately, cervical cancer screenings can detect cervical cancer when it’s still precancerous. Cervical cancer found at this stage is highly treatable, and the outlook is very positive.

What can you do to detect cervical cancer early?

Just like most other types of cancer, you’ll have more treatment options and a better outlook if cervical cancer is found early.

Later stages of cervical cancer can be complex and difficult to treat. Survival odds decrease when cervical cancer goes undetected and has the opportunity to spread beyond your cervix.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to detect cervical cancer in the early stages. Here are medically recommended early detection strategies:

Get routine screening for cervical cancer

Screenings are the best way to detect cervical cancer in its early stages. Early stages of cervical cancer don’t often cause symptoms or prompt doctor visits. Screenings can find cervical cancer long before symptoms begin.

There are two primary screenings for cervical cancer:

• Pap smears: A Pap smear tests for cervical cancer and precancerous changes that could become cancer.
• HPV tests: HPV tests look for the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the number-one risk factor for cervical cancer.

The American Cancer Society recommends regular screenings if you’re between the ages of 25 and 65. Guidelines can be found in the table below.

What can you do to prevent cervical cancer?

Since HPV is the biggest risk factor for cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine is the best way to prevent cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects you from the strands of HPV that are most commonly linked to cervical cancer. It doesn’t cure HPV if you already have it.

It’s recommended that you get the HPV vaccine when you’re between the ages of 11 and 14. However, anyone under the age of 26 is highly encouraged to get the vaccine. You can read more about recommended ages and dosing schedules in the table below.

Frequently asked questions about cervical cancer detection and prevention

Should I continue to get screening if I’ve had a hysterectomy?

It depends. You should continue to get screened if your hysterectomy was done as treatment for cervical cancer. You should also continue to get screened if your cervix wasn’t removed during your hysterectomy.

If your cervix was removed, and if your hysterectomy was for a reason other than the treatment of cervical cancer, you do not need to continue cervical cancer screenings.

Should I continue to get screened if I’ve had the HPV vaccine?

Yes. It’s very important to continue getting screened for cervical cancer, even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine.

Is the HPV vaccine safe for everyone?

The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. However, The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against the vaccine if you:

• have a history of immediate hypersensitivity to yeast (people with minor yeast allergies, such as a skin rash, should not defer a vaccination)
• are currently pregnant
• have a moderate to severe acute illness or upper respiratory infection (vaccination should be deferred until symptoms improve)*

Having diarrhea or a mild upper respiratory tract infection with or without fever is not a reason to defer vaccination.

If you’re pregnant or have an infection, you can wait and get the HPV vaccine at a later time. If you’re allergic to yeast, talk to your doctor about your allergy, the HPV vaccine, and your options.

In summary…

• Early detection of cervical cancer can significantly improve your treatment outlook.
• Cervical cancer is unlikely to cause symptoms in the early stages—which is why screenings are so important.
• Pap smears and HPV tests are both used as screenings for cervical cancer.
• Following screening guidelines for your age and risk group can help detect cancer in the precancer stage when it is very treatable.
• Talk to a medical professional about your personal risk for cervical cancer.
• Consider getting an HPV vaccine if you haven’t received one in the past, especially if you’re under 26.
• The HPV vaccine is the number-one way to lower your overall risk of cervical cancer.

This article was brought to you by the Proactive Health Management Plan in partnership with Healthline.