The CMH Women’s Center providers include (left to right) Dr. Kellie Edwards, Certified Nurse Midwives Patricia Boullie and Corrine Almquist, Dr. Sarah Humphrey, Dr. Nathan Amrine and Dr. Robert Holland.
From the OB/GYN physicians and Certified Nurse Midwives at the CMH Women’s Center
The most important thing to know about cervical cancer may be this: it’s largely preventable. Here’s a look at how to protect yourself — or your daughter — from a disease that kills more than 4,000 women every year.
A Pap test can find pre-cancerous changes in the cells of the cervix that can be treated before they have the chance to turn into cancer. Most cases of cervical cancer are found in women who haven’t had regular Pap tests.
Your doctor may also advise testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV). This sexually spread infection is to blame for most cases of cervical cancer.
The American Cancer Society advises the following cervical cancer and HPV screening schedule if you’re:
Still another powerful way to prevent cervical cancer is the HPV vaccine. In addition to protecting against cervical cancer, it helps prevent:
Given in a series of shots, the HPV vaccine is advised for all preteen boys and girls ages 11 to 12. Catch-up vaccines are typically given through age 21 for men and 26 for women. And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the Gardasil 9 HPV vaccine for men and women through age 45.
Sources: American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Food and Drug Administration
