*Flashback Friday*

*This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on January 20. 2020.

 

Cervical Health Awareness Month

 

According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, more than 13,000 women are diagnosed every year in the United States with invasive cervical cancer. The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable with HPV vaccination and appropriate screening.

Human papillomavirus causes practically all cases of cervical cancer in women. HPV is also responsible for causing other types of cancers (throat, penile, vulvar, anal) that occur in both men and women.

Many people with HPV are asymptomatic — they don’t know they are infected. It’s estimated that about 79 million Americans are infected with this virus.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. In an email to pediatricians last week, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics reminded pediatricians to remind our patients and families of the rather simple ways women can protect themselves from human papillomavirus infection and cancer of the cervix:

• The HPV vaccine can prevent HPV.

• Cervical cancer can often be prevented with regular screening tests and follow-up care.

• Cervical cancer screenings can help detect abnormal cells early, before they turn into cancer. Regular pap screenings and follow-up care can prevent many unnecessary deaths.

 

Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition reinforces pediatricians’ important messages regarding vaccination…

HPV vaccines can help prevent infection from both high risk HPV types that can lead to cervical cancer and low risk types that cause genital warts. The CDC recommends all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12 as the vaccine produces a stronger immune response when taken during the preteen years. For this reason, up until age 14, only two doses are the vaccine are required. The vaccine is available for all males and females through age 45 but, for those 15 and older, a  full three-dose series is needed.

 

… and screening, which is usually done by our OB/GYN colleagues:

A Pap test can find cell changes to the cervix caused by HPV. HPV tests find the virus and help healthcare providers know which women are at highest risk for cervical cancer. Pap and HPV tests (either alone or in combination) are recommended for women over 30: each woman should ask her health care provider how often she should be screened and which tests are right for her.

 

Learn more about human papillomavirus, HPV-associated cancers, and the safe and effective 20th century immunizations that prevent this potentially deadly infection here.

 

source https://www.thepediablog.com/2023/01/20/flashback-friday-242/