What Women Should Know About Cervical Cancer and the Human Papilloma VirusOne of the best and proven steps that you can take to prevent a cancer is to have a Pap test. * The Pap test looks for changes in the cervix that might lead to cancer. * If cancer does occur, the Pap test can find it early when it is easier to treat. * Your doctor or nurse can tell you how often you should have a Pap test. Changes in the cervix are often caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV infections can lead to cervix cancer. This booklet has answers to many questions women may have about: * Preventing cervix cancer or finding it early * Pap tests * Human papilloma virus (HPV) * HPV tests The most important message for women is to have regular Pap tests to prevent cancer of the cervix from ever occurring. There are different types of HPV. This booklet gives information about the type of HPV that causes changes in the cervix. This booklet is not about the type that causes genital warts. What is cervix cancer? Cancer of the cervix is cancer that begins in the cervix, the part of the womb (or uterus) that opens to the vagina. diagram showing ovaries, uterus, vagina, and cervix The cervix separates the womb (or uterus) from the vagina. How common is it? Cervix cancer is rare in this country today because most women get regular Pap tests. What is a Pap test? The Pap test helps doctors find early changes in the cervix cells that might lead to cancer. It is done during a pelvic exam. Abnormal results on a Pap test are common. diagram showing how a Pap test is done. With a Pap test, the doctor or nurse takes a sample of cells from the cervix with a swab or soft brush. Do we know what causes cervix cancer? Cervix cancer is caused by a virus called HPV. What is HPV? HPV is short for human papilloma (pap-ah-LO-mah) virus. This virus can cause changes in the cervix. HPV is not the same as HIV. HPV is not a new virus, but we are learning more about this virus. Most people who have ever had sex have had HPV at some time in their lives. How does HPV lead to cervix cancer? HPV is spread through sex, and it can cause an infection in the cervix. The infection usually doesn’t last very long because your body is able to fight the infection. If the HPV doesn’t go away, the virus may cause cervix cells to change and become pre-cancer cells. Pre-cancer cells are not cancer. Most cells with early pre-cancer changes return to normal on their own. Sometimes, the pre-cancer cells may turn into cancer if they are not found and treated. Very few HPV infections lead to cervix cancer. Who can get cervix cancer? Because HPV is so common, any woman who has ever had sex can get cervix cancer. But, most women who get HPV do not get cervix cancer. Women who have their Pap tests as often as they should are least likely to get cervix cancer. Some women have a greater chance of getting cervix cancer if they: * Have HPV and it doesn’t go away * Have HIV or AIDS * Smoke Women who do not have Pap tests at all or who do not have them as often as they should have the greatest chance of getting cervix cancer. If I’m not having sex, do I still need to get a Pap test? Yes. Women who were sexually active in the past can still get cervix cancer. Who can get HPV? Any man or woman who has ever had sex can get HPV. The virus is spread by sex. Condoms do not completely protect you from HPV, but are very helpful in protecting you from other infections that can be spread through sex. Are there any symptoms of HPV? No. Most people will never know they have HPV. But if the HPV does not go away on its own, it can cause changes in the cervix cells. These changes usually show up on your Pap test.

One of the best and proven steps that you can take to prevent a cancer is to have a Pap test.

• The Pap test looks for changes in the cervix that might lead to cancer.
• If cancer does occur, the Pap test can find it early when it is easier to treat.
• Your doctor or nurse can tell you how often you should have a Pap test.

Changes in the cervix are often caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV infections can lead to cervix cancer.
This booklet has answers to many questions women may have about:

• Preventing cervix cancer or finding it early
• Pap tests
• Human papilloma virus (HPV)
• HPV tests

The most important message for women is to have regular Pap tests to prevent cancer of the cervix from ever occurring.
There are different types of HPV. This booklet gives information about the type of HPV that causes changes in the cervix. This booklet is not about the type that causes genital warts.

What is cervix cancer?

Cancer of the cervix is cancer that begins in the cervix, the part of the womb (or uterus) that opens to the vagina.

The cervix separates the womb (or uterus) from the vagina.

How common is it?

Cervix cancer is rare in this country today because most women get regular Pap tests.

What is a Pap test?

The Pap test helps doctors find early changes in the cervix cells that might lead to cancer. It is done during a pelvic exam. Abnormal results on a Pap test are common.

With a Pap test, the doctor or nurse takes a sample of cells from the cervix with a swab or soft brush.

Do we know what causes cervix cancer?

Cervix cancer is caused by a virus called HPV.

What is HPV?

HPV is short for human papilloma (pap-ah-LO-mah) virus. This virus can cause changes in the cervix. HPV is not the same as HIV.
HPV is not a new virus, but we are learning more about this virus. Most people who have ever had sex have had HPV at some time in their lives.

How does HPV lead to cervix cancer?

HPV is spread through sex, and it can cause an infection in the cervix. The infection usually doesn’t last very long because your body is able to fight the infection. If the HPV doesn’t go away, the virus may cause cervix cells to change and become pre-cancer cells. Pre-cancer cells are not cancer. Most cells with early pre-cancer changes return to normal on their own. Sometimes, the pre-cancer cells may turn into cancer if they are not found and treated.
Very few HPV infections lead to cervix cancer.

Who can get cervix cancer?

Because HPV is so common, any woman who has ever had sex can get cervix cancer. But, most women who get HPV do not get cervix cancer. Women who have their Pap tests as often as they should are least likely to get cervix cancer.
Some women have a greater chance of getting cervix cancer if they:

• Have HPV and it doesn’t go away
• Have HIV or AIDS
• Smoke

Women who do not have Pap tests at all or who do not have them as often as they should have the greatest chance of getting cervix cancer.

If I’m not having sex, do I still need to get a Pap test?

Yes. Women who were sexually active in the past can still get cervix cancer.

Who can get HPV?

Any man or woman who has ever had sex can get HPV. The virus is spread by sex.
Condoms do not completely protect you from HPV, but are very helpful in protecting you from other infections that can be spread through sex.

Are there any symptoms of HPV?

No. Most people will never know they have HPV. But if the HPV does not go away on its own, it can cause changes in the cervix cells. These changes usually show up on your Pap test.