There are many words that can describe cervical cancer, such as silent and deadly, a slowly progressive disease that often shows few symptoms in its early stages. According to statistics, more than 11,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States each year, and for many patients, the disease is not detected until very late in life, at which point even the most effective treatments are unable to help. What are the causes of cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is a common female cancer caused by the human papilloma virus, a common sexually transmitted infection that affects approximately 79 million women in the United States, and the presence of HPV can be detected in 93% of all cervical cancer patients. However, HPV is not enough to cause cervical cancer, as other factors include smoking, poor nutrition, a weak immune system and pregnancy. Up to 80% of the sexually active population will be exposed to HPV at some point in their lives, but the vast majority will show no symptoms and their immune systems will actually be able to clear the virus completely within two years. However, in some women, specific strains of HPV are able to change the cells of the cervix, which can lead to cervical cancer. So how to prevent cervical cancer? Routine Pap tests “Pap tests” help clinicians to detect abnormalities in the cervix and to take effective measures to stop the progression of cervical cancer before it occurs. Women should have a Pap test at least every three years, preferably starting at age 21, and once they reach age 30, we recommend a Pap smear every five years, along with a Pap test. In addition seek a doctor for a disease risk assessment as soon as bleeding from intercourse occurs. According to the American Cancer Society, 60 to 80 percent of patients diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer in the United States have not had a Pap test in the past five years, and some women have never even had the test. Long-term follow-up of abnormal Pap smears If the infection is present, doctors may treat the patient and repeat the Pap test at a later time, and if the Pap test results reveal something different from the infection, doctors may need to perform additional tests to find the source of the problem. In some cases, when a woman has a previously abnormal Pap test result, doctors may need to test the patient for HPV DNA, a test that detects HPV in the patient’s cervical tissue. Vaccination There are effective vaccines available to prevent cancer, and vaccination may be a good option. There are two cervical cancer vaccines called Cirex and Gardasil that can be used to protect patients from HPV infection and also help prevent certain types of cancer in men, and your doctor may have you get three shots over a six-month period to prevent the disease. Gardasil is recommended for use in girls and women aged 9-26 years, and Cirex is recommended for use in girls aged 9 years and women of any age who have not previously been vaccinated or previously diagnosed with cervical cancer; the HPV vaccine is also recommended for children aged 11 years and older. Researchers note that if you are not in the right vaccination population but your child is suitable for vaccination, then consider having your child vaccinated, but note that even if you were not vaccinated as a child, you can still get the vaccination up to age 26. Safe sex Numerous studies have shown that women who have multiple sexual partners are at higher risk for HPV infection and cervical cancer; if an individual woman is sexually active, it is best to use condoms. It also increases the risk of precancerous lesions of the cervix in women. Condoms during sexual intercourse can reduce the risk of HPV-related diseases, including cervical cancer, but individuals need to be aware that HPV can infect areas of the body that are not covered by condoms, so wearing condoms does not actually protect individuals from HPV infection, which is why it is important to get vaccinated against HPV while using condoms. Smoking can double an individual’s risk of cervical cancer. Studies have shown that tobacco-related byproducts can damage the DNA of a woman’s cervical tissue cells and also promote the development of cervical cancer.