January is Cervical Health Awareness Month 

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet Latinx and Black women suffer disproportionately from cervical cancer due to structural inequities in health care. January is Cervical Health Awareness Month — a good time to check in with your health care provider to get a screening.   

Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of human papillomavirus or HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection. Smoking, having multiple partners, and practicing unprotected sex increases a person’s risk of contracting HPV. In most cases, HPV is harmless and goes away on its own —but high-risk HPV can lead to cancer. There is no cure for HPV, but a vaccine is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of cervical, vulvar, penile, anal, mouth, and throat cancers caused by human papillomavirus.  

The Center for Disease Control recommends that all young people get the vaccine at 11 or 12 years old, but it’s approved for people as young as 9-years-old, before they are sexually active. Research shows, young people who get the HPV vaccine are no more likely to have sex than those who don’t; and it offers parents a good opportunity to talk with their kids about sexual health and relationships. Planned Parenthood of Greater New York offers digital tools and resources to help parents and caregivers to open the lines of conversation with their children and teens about sexuality.  

As the Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY), I know firsthand how important HPV tests are to saving lives. Cervical cancer is still a leading cause of death for women in Latin America and the Caribbean. Here in the U.S. as many as 93% of cervical cancer cases could be avoided by HPV testing and the HPV vaccine. With early detection, the five-year survival rate for cervical cancer is 92%. How often you should get tested depends on your age, medical history, and the results of your last Pap or HPV tests. 

In general: 

•  If you’re 21–24 years old: you can choose to get a Pap test every 3 years, or you can wait until you’re 25 years old to start getting tested.

• If you’re 25–65 years old: get an HPV test every 5 years, or a Pap test and HPV test together (co-testing) every 5 years. In some places where HPV testing is less available, you may get only a Pap test every 3 years.

• If you’re older than 65: you may not need HPV/Pap tests anymore. 

At Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, we are experts in sexual and reproductive health. We are available to help you access accurate, culturally competent information and connect you to the care you need to live a healthy, happy life.   

Our doors are open to everyone of all incomes, races, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and immigration statuses. We believe that all people deserve high-quality, affordable health care and accurate, compassionate sexual health information — no matter who they are or where they live. 

You can book an in-person or telehealth appointment via our Virtual Health Center at www.ppgreaterny.org or by calling 1-800-230-PLAN.  

Your reproductive health care should be treated no differently than other forms of health care. Cervical cancer screenings — for all people with a cervix — are standard medical care.