Debunking Common Myths about Cervical Health
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross B...
Key Takeaways
- Most people clear HPV on their own; only a small fraction develop cervical cancer, which affects about 13,000 U.S. women each year.
- The HPV vaccine greatly reduces risk but does not eliminate the need for regular Pap smears every three years for women of average risk.
- Cervical cancer often has no early symptoms, so routine screening and follow‑up of abnormal results are essential for early detection and treatment.
Cervical health is key for women’s physical and reproductive health.
Here is a look at common myths around cervical health, cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Myth: If you contract HPV, you will get cervical cancer.
Fact: About half of sexually active people will be exposed to HPV in their lifetime, but your body clears the infection on its own most of the time, according to the University of Washington Medicine. Developing cervical cancer is much more rare; about 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually.
Myth: You are only at risk of HPV if you are sexually active.
Fact: HPV causes most cases of cervical cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), but there are a few other factors associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer:
- Chlamydia infection
- Long-term use of birth control pills
- Having three or more full-term pregnancies
- Having a child at age 20 or younger
- Family history
Myth: An abnormal Pap screening result means you have cancer.
Fact: Abnormal results do not automatically indicate cancer, according to the ACS. Some screenings are false positives. In some cases, abnormal results show cell changes that may never turn into cancer. Both may lead to further tests to determine the meaning of the results and whether a biopsy is required.
Myth: You have no symptoms, therefore you don’t have cancer.
Fact: Early stages of cervical cancer may not have any symptoms, which makes regular screenings key for detection. As cervical cancer advances, common symptoms include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding, including after sex and between periods
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Pelvic pain
- Pain after sex
Myth: You don’t need Pap smears after getting the HPV vaccine.
Fact: Pap smears are recommended every three years for most women, whether they have received the HPV vaccine or not. The vaccine is one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer, but no vaccine can completely prevent cancer, according to the ACS.
Pap smears and pelvic exams are also important to check for overall health.
Myth: HPV is only passed through penetrative sex.
Fact: Oral sex and deep kissing can lead to contracting HPV, even at a young age. HPV causes may cause up to 70% of oropharyngeal, or mouth and throat, cancers in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The HPV vaccine also protects against oral and throat cancers.
Myth: HPV can only spread through sexual activity.
Fact: HPV is passed by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected area. While HPV is typically spread through sexual activity, it isn’t required to be exposed to the virus, per the ACS. An individual can have HPV for years and not know it, meaning they can pass the virus without knowing it.
Myth: Cervical screenings are the same as sexually transmitted infections (STI) tests.
Fact: A Pap test checks the cervix for abnormalities, including cancer, but testing for STIs is typically a separate procedure. Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) if you would like STI testing.
Preventing cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, and early detection is more likely to lead to successful treatment.
Here are some tips for cervical health:
- Get the HPV vaccine from age 9 to age 26, or even up to age 45.
- Get routine Pap smears every three years if you have average risk. Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) if you are at increased an increased risk of cervical cancer.
- Get HPV tests every five years, or when your PCP recommends.
- Practice safe sex, including limiting the number of sexual partners and using condoms.
- Quit or avoid smoking.
- Practice healthy lifestyle habits, including eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly.
Image: Getty Images
Related:
