"Because of regular screening, the HPV vaccine and the fact that cervical cancers take a long time to develop, cervical cancer is easier to detect than many other gynecological cancers," says Marianne C. Krupka, DO, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Northwestern Medicine.

Pap Tests and Cervical Cancer Detection

During a Pap test, your physician uses a brush or plastic spatula to gently scrape cells off the cervix. They send these cells to a pathologist, who uses a microscope to see if the cells look normal, precancerous or cancerous.

Based on your age and personal and family history or if your Pap test results indicate abnormal cell growth, your physician may recommend more frequent Pap test screening.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists both suggest starting cervical cancer screening at age 21. The American Cancer Society suggests that screening begin at age 25.

Talk to your primary care physician or gynecologist to determine a screening regimen that works best for you.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

In between your regular screening visits, call your physician if you notice these symptoms:

• Bleeding after intercourse (if you're not menstruating)
• Pain with intercourse
• Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Cervical Cancer Risk

Risk factors for cervical cancer include:

• Age. If you are older than 30, you have a higher chance of having abnormal cells that persist for a long time in your cervix, and therefore a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
• HPV virus. Genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. There are more than 40 different types of HPV. According to the CDC, 13 types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. When these types of HPV linger in the body, they can cause cells to divide more rapidly, which increases the risk of abnormal cell development and cancer. Sexually transmitted HPV infection puts roughly 10% of women who have it at risk for cervical cancer.
• Immune deficiencies. People with HIV have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
• Unprotected sexual activity. In addition to not using protection during intercourse, starting sexual activity at a young age and having multiple sexual partners can increase the risk of cervical cancer.
• Family history. If you have a first-degree relative who has a history of cervical cancer, your risk is higher.

Lower Your Risk of Cervical Cancer

You can lower your risk of developing cervical cancer by doing the following:

• Get the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in reducing risk of precancerous changes in the cervix. The HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 11 through 26, regardless of gender. If you are between the ages of 26 and 45, talk to your physician to see if the HPV vaccine is appropriate for you. A few types of HPV vaccine now help protect people from many of the strains of HPV most commonly associated with cancer. However, no vaccine has been developed that protects against all the high-risk strains of HPV.
• Use protection if you are sexually active.