January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and in observance of this Washington County Public Health Nurse Lynn Fisher says women should have routine checks. Fisher says women can lower their risk of cervical cancer by getting screened regularly with a Pap test and/or HPV test, “The Humanpapillomavirus is the cause of almost all cervical cancers. A lot of people get HPV, about 14 million new cases a year. And oftentimes women don’t know they have the virus and so it’s important to be screened for it.” Not all cases of HPV lead to cancer. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that regular screens begin at age 21.

There is a vaccine recommended for boys and girls to prevent certain HPV strains that can cause more than cervical cancer, “The Human Papillomavirus vaccine now covers nine strains of HPV. When it first came out it only covered two, so it has been improved. And that is aimed at building immunity against the strains that are most likely to cause cancers.” That vaccination is recommended for 11- and 12-year-olds. The CDC advises that the HPV vaccination prevents new infections, but does not treat existing infections or diseases. This is why the HPV vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV.