There’s no shortage of commercials on television talking about cervical cancer and how the interviewee is now at increased risk because they were never vaccinated against human papillomavirus. So, let’s start from the beginning…

What is a cervix? It is the lower, narrow portion of your uterus that connects to the vagina via the vaginal canal. One of the most common causes of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus. Vaccination against the strains of the virus that lead to cancer are available and are recommended for boys and girls from around 11 or 12 years of age up until 26 years of age.

Screening is performed using pap smears to check for the presence of abnormal cells in the cervix. Pap smears should be performed from the early twenties to the age of 65, and the duration between tests will vary depending on the results. In the early stages of cervical cancer, individuals are usually asymptomatic and that is one of the most important reasons to get screened regularly. If precancerous cells are found, women can be treated before those cells become cancerous. For more information, or to get screened speak to your gynecologist.