Cervical cancer is highly treatable when caught early. However, screening rates among some eligible groups have been declining, leading to an increase in diagnoses.
In women ages 30-44, cervical cancer rates increased 1.7% each year from 2012 to 2019, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Experts say confusion around changing screening guidelines may have contributed to a drop-off in women following through on testing.
“As we mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Month this January, we want women to understand the screening guidelines as well as their risk and prevention steps,” says Dr. Emily Gonnering, a Family Medicine Physician with ThedaCare.
Cervical Cancer Key Facts
Any woman or person who’s assigned female at birth can develop cervical cancer. The cancer develops in the cervix, the entrance to the uterus from the vagina.
Approximately 99% of cervical cancer cases are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomavirus, (HPV), according to the World Health Organization. This is a common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
ACS estimated 2024 would bring the diagnosis of around 13,800 cases of invasive cervical cancer. Approximately 4,300 women were projected to die from the disease.
The toll of the disease disproportionately affects certain minority groups. The cervical cancer death rate among Black women and Indigenous women is 65% higher than in white women, the ACS states.
Changing Stats
Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44. It rarely develops in women younger than 20.
Once one of the most common causes of cancer death among American women, rates of the disease have dropped by more than half between the mid-1970s and mid-2000s. Improved prevention and screening have helped, though rates have stabilized over the past decade, according to the ACS.
Though cervical cancer rates have been increasing in women ages 30 to 44, they’ve declined 11% each year for women ages 20 to 24. That likely reflects the first signs of cancer prevention from HPV vaccination, according to the ACS.
Screening Guidelines
The ACS recommends the following for women at normal risk for cervical cancer:
- Cervical cancer testing should begin at age 25.
- Those aged 25 to 65 should have a primary HPV test every five years. A primary HPV test is one that is done by itself for screening. If primary HPV testing is not available, women may undergo screening with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Pap test every five years or a Pap test alone every three years.
- Women over 65 who have undergone regular screening in the past 10 years with normal results can stop cervical cancer screening.
“It’s important to also understand that women should complete routine health care visits every year, regardless of whether they’re due for cervical cancer screening,” Dr. Gonnering says.
Symptoms
In its early stages, cervical cancers and pre-cancers often have no symptoms, according to the ACS. If symptoms do occur, they can include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding after vaginal sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods, or having menstrual periods that are longer or heavier than usual
- An unusual discharge from the vagina, such as discharge that may contain blood and may occur between menstrual periods or after menopause
- Pain during sex
- Pain in the pelvic region
Later-stage symptoms can include:
- Swelling of the legs
- Problems urinating or having a bowel movement
- Blood in the urine
Vaccination and Prevention
Getting vaccinated against HPV, if eligible, and completing screenings are the most important steps in preventing cervical cancer, according to the ACS.
The ACS shares the following vaccination recommendations:
- HPV vaccination of children, including boys, between the ages of 9 and 12.
- Children and young adults age 13 through 26 who have not been vaccinated, or who haven’t gotten all their doses, should get the vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccination of young adults will not prevent as many cancers as vaccination of children and teens.
Screening can help catch cancer early or when it’s still in the pre-cancer stage. If detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable cancers, according to the ACS.
HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. To reduce the chances of contracting HPV, people may consider limiting their number of sexual partners and avoiding engaging in sex with individuals who have had many other sex partners. Using a condom also may help protect against HPV, but condoms don’t offer complete protection, according to the ACS.
“Through screening and vaccination, we hope to see a decrease in the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer,” Dr. Gonnering says. “If you have any questions around whether you’re due for screening, please reach out to your health care team.”
