Reviewed 4/5/2024
Cervical cancer: True or false?
Each year, about 13,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer—or cancer of the cervix. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent, detect and stop it early on. How much do you know about cervical cancer?
True or false: HPV (human papillomavirus) infections cause most cervical cancers.
True. HPV is a group of viruses that can be transmitted during vaginal, oral or anal sex. HPV infection is very common, and it usually disappears on its own. But certain types can cause cervical cancer when they don't go away. That's why HPV vaccination is a big part of cervical cancer prevention.
True or false: Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecological cancer to prevent.
True. Routine screening with an HPV test or the Pap test can help a doctor find and treat abnormal cells early on—before they turn into cancer. Another easy, but important, form of prevention is getting an HPV vaccination at the recommended age.
True or false: Vaginal pain and bleeding are usually the first symptoms of cervical cancer.
True. However, often there are no symptoms at all, especially in its early stages. In its later stages, symptoms can include vaginal discharge, bleeding, pain during sex and problems urinating.
True or false: You can't get cervical cancer if you've had a hysterectomy.
False. Not all hysterectomies include removal of the cervix, which means you may still be at risk for cervical cancer. Women who have had a total hysterectomy—removal of the uterus and cervix—can stop having screening tests, unless the hysterectomy was performed because of cervical cancer or serious pre-cancer.
True or false: An abnormal test means you have cervical cancer.
False. Cervical cancer isn't the only thing that can cause an abnormal test. Other possible reasons include irritation, an infection or a mistake in the preparation of the test. In most cases, an abnormal test means you'll be asked to repeat the test.
Women should begin having tests to screen for cervical cancer when they turn 25 and should continue testing through age 65. You should have a primary HPV test every 5 years. According to the American Cancer Society, a primary HPV test alone is the preferred way to screen for cervical cancer. If primary HPV testing is unavailable, you should have an HPV test plus a Pap test every 5 years, or a Pap test by itself every 3 years.
Sources
- American Cancer Society. "The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html.
- American Cancer Society. "Key Statistics for Cervical Cancer." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/about/key-statistics.html.
- American Cancer Society. "The Pap (Papanicolaou) Test." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/screening-tests/pap-test.html.
- American Cancer Society. "Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html.
- American Cancer Society. "Take the Quiz: Cervical Cancer." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/cervical-cancer-quiz.html.
- American Cancer Society. "When Cervical Screening Test Results Are Abnormal." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/screening-tests/abn-pap-work-up.html.
- American Sexual Health Association. "Myths and Facts." https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/hpv-myths-facts/.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Cervical Cancer Statistics." https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/statistics/.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Cervical Cancer." https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/cervical_facts.pdf.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Genital HPV Infection – Basic Fact Sheet." https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm.
- Office on Women's Health. "Cervical Cancer." http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/cervical-cancer.html.
- Office on Women's Health. "Pap and HPV Tests." https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/pap-hpv-tests.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. "Cervical Cancer: Screening." https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/cervical-cancer-screening.