Women of all ages need to understand the risk for cervical cancer. Why? Because they may be at risk for the disease and not even know it.

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 10,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. The good news is that it can be prevented.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. Many people never know they have the virus. It often has no symptoms and can go away on its own. However, in some women, certain strains of HPV cause changes to the cells in the cervix, which can then become cancerous.

What Are the Risk Factors?
Most women with HPV will never get cervical cancer. But these risk factors increase the likelihood of getting it:

• Long-term oral contraceptive use
• Having many sexual partners
• Smoking
• Having multiple full-term pregnancies

Early Detection Is Important
There’s no cure for HPV, but there is treatment for the precancerous cells it can cause. The key is detection. Regular Pap tests can identify these “warning” cells for treatment before they have the chance to turn cancerous.

In addition, an HPV vaccine is available; it’s recommended for girls before they become sexually active. It has the potential to greatly reduce cervical cancer by preventing some HPV infections. Paramount covers the HPV vaccine for women younger than age 26.