Cervical cancer is one disease you may be able to avoid. Here’s how.

Get checked. The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is to blame for nearly all cancers on the cervix—the part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. About 80 percent of women get this virus through sex.

Regular exams and Pap tests to check for HPV infection are the best defenses against the disease. Doctors recommend women get tested every 2 to 3 years once they reach age 21 or are sexually active for 3 years.

Reduce your risk. Girls and women ages 9 to 18 can be vaccinated against HPV. Experts recommend they get vaccinated before they become sexually active.

Certain lifestyle strategies—such as maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and eating green vegetables—can help reduce cancer risk, too.