With regard to evolving countries, one of the principal reasons of women’s death in the entire world is cervical cancer. Although incidence of this disease in the United States is steadily decreasing, it is still important to be mindful of different cervical cancer prevention strategies.

Cervical cancer has been proven to be one of the most preventable kinds of cancer that affects women. In fact, thanks to the accessibility of Pap smear tests, the number of cervical cancer cases from all over the world has dropped over the past twenty years. But since there still are a lot of women that develop cervical cancer, this is not a reason to be complacent. Below you’ll find some cervical cancer prevention approaches that women can use to reduce the risk of developing the disease.

The group of viruses called the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the one that causes cervical cancer, and one of the best cervical cancer prevention strategies, is to get the vaccines that fight these viruses. One of the kinds of HPV vaccines that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration is Gardasil, for example. To prevent cervical cancer that is caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18, women from age 9 to 26 can get this vaccine. This vaccine is said to be most effective among young women before they become sexually active.

The American Chemical Society claims that girls 11 to 12 years old should get a routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, until they are 18 years old. Even if no solid data has suggested a HPV vaccination for women from 19 to 29 years old, it is recommended that vaccinated women should continue to screen for cervical cancer.

Another one of the effective cervical cancer prevention strategies is getting a regular Pap smear. This test is considered to be the greatest defense against cervical cancer since it can detect changes in the cervix during their early stages, way before they develop into cancer. You may find out about cervical cancer screening guidelines, particularly how often you should have the test, from your gynecologist.

If you get an abnormal Pap smear, it is very important to follow this up with regular Pap smears, or colposcopies, with proper consultation with your doctor. If you have been treated for cervical dysplasia, you also still need to follow this up with regular Pap smears, or colposcopies, since these precancerous changes in the cervix can return and when undetected, turn into cervical cancer.

Knowing that the HPV virus is transported from person to person through sexual contact, carefulness in sexual activities represents one of the recommended cervical cancer prevention strategies. Since studies have established that women with many sexual partners get this disease more often, a good way of reducing the risk of developing cervical cancer is to limit the number of sexual partners. If possible, sexual abstinence should be practiced. The risk of getting HPV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases can be reduced through the use of barrier defense or spermicidal gels throughout sexual intercourse.

Prevention is seen as better than the cure, as a well-known proverb says. The chances of having this disease are diminished if these cervical cancer prevention strategies are practiced.

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