Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44, with the average age being 50. It rarely develops in women younger than 20.
HPV is passed from one person to another during skin-to-skin contact with an infected area of the body.
Although HPV can be spread during skin-to-skin contact — including vaginal, anal and oral sex — sex doesn’t have to occur for the infection to spread. All that is needed is skin-to-skin contact with an area of the body infected with HPV. This means that the virus can be spread without sex. It is even possible for a genital infection to spread through hand-to-genital contact.
Many HPV infections clear on their own.
Sometimes, however, the infection does not go away and becomes chronic. Chronic infection, especially when certain high-risk HPV types cause it, can eventually cause certain cancers, such as cervical cancer.
Although there is currently no cure for HPV infection, there are ways to treat the warts and abnormal cell growth that HPV causes. Also, HPV vaccines are available to help prevent infection by certain types of HPV and some of the cancers linked to those types.
The American Cancer Society recommends that girls and boys receive the HPV vaccine between 9 and 12. Children and young adults aged 13 to 26 who have not been vaccinated or have not completed all doses should get the vaccine as soon as possible.
It’s important to know that no vaccine provides complete protection against all cancer-causing types of HPV, so routine cervical cancer screening is still needed. Cervical cancer screening should begin at age 25. People between the ages of 25 and 65 should undergo a primary HPV test every five years. If a primary HPV test is unavailable, screening may be done with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every five years or a Pap test alone every three years.
Regular screenings are essential, regardless of the test type. Women over 65 with normal results from regular testing in the past 10 years can stop testing. However, those with a history of serious cervical precancer should continue screening for at least 25 years. People who have been vaccinated against HPV should still follow these guidelines for their age groups.
This Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, I am pleased to highlight a groundbreaking initiative to eliminate cervical cancer in Louisiana. Last November, health care professionals, public health experts and community stakeholders from across the state united to develop a comprehensive plan aimed at eradicating cervical cancer.
Locally, we are already seeing remarkable progress through cutting-edge research and impactful outreach programs. My ongoing studies focus on identifying barriers to HPV vaccination and screening among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black women. I am also involved in a statewide project funded by the American Cancer Society, which evaluates cervical cancer risk factors and follow-up care.
Additionally, the Partners in Wellness (PIW) program, initiated by the LSU Health Shreveport Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, brings screenings directly to the community and provides Pap smears and HPV testing to women in Northwest Louisiana. These services break down barriers like transportation and cost, ensuring more women benefit from early detection and prevention.
Cervical cancer can be prevented with timely vaccinations and detected early through routine screenings. This January, let us unite to raise awareness and support initiatives that bring us closer to eliminating cervical cancer in Louisiana. Together, we can save lives and create a healthier future for all.
Deborah Smith, PhD, MPH, BSN, assistant professor in the School of Allied Health Professions, LSU Health Shreveport.
