First and Foremost…know that YOU are not ALONE. At some point, 80 to 85 percent of ALL sexually active women WILL have HPV. In the majority of people your immune system fights the virus off in six to 24 months.

Key Things Women Should Know? 

Cervical cancer is preventable. Early detection of pre-cancerous changes - through screening - is key. 

• Cervical cancer is shown to be caused by a virus - HPV (human papillomavirus). Of the approximately 70 types of HPV, there are 13 types known as "high-risk" types, that are associated with cervical cancer. HPV is more common in women under age 30 and almost always clears on its own. 

• Most women will have HPV at some point, but very few will develop cervical cancer. When a woman's immune system is working normally, only HPV infection that is persistent over many years can lead to cervical cancer. 

• It can be helpful to know your HPV status. This can help determine whether or not you are at "lower risk," as advised by your healthcare provider. 

• Don't blame. Your HPV status is not a reliable indicator of your, or your partner's, sexual behavior.


Questions Women Should Ask Their Doctor

Below are some questions to help you begin the conversation about HPV and HPV testing with your doctor. These can help determine if HPV testing is right for you. 

• Do you provide HPV testing as part of management of abnormal Pap test results? 

• Are you familiar with the new American Cancer Society guidelines that offer a preliminary recommendation, pending FDA approval, that HPV DNA testing may be used in conjunction with the Pap test, to safely screen women age 30 and over for cervical cancer as frequently as every three years? 

• How do you screen your patients for cervical cancer?

• When should I be screened next for cervical cancer? 

• Are you aware of the new Consensus Guidelines published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (in April 2002) that recommend HPV testing as the preferred approach for managing women with inconclusive Pap results, particularly when a liquid-based Pap test is initially used for screening? 

• If I have an inconclusive Pap test result, can you ask the laboratory to perform an automatic ("reflex") HPV test from the same Pap sample before calling me with the results? 

• Can I talk with you about additional questions I may have regarding HPV and cervical cancer? 

Remember:

Know you’re not alone!
Be Sexually Responsible!
Boost Your Immune System!
Quit Smoking!
Ask Questions!
Be Informed!
Spread the word!
Love, Protect & Respect Yourself!