How's Your Cervical Health?

Recent media coverage about the latest research and advances in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cervical cancer and human papilloma virus (HPV) has prompted many women to pay more attention to their cervical health. That’s good news. The bad news is that 50 percent of Pennsylvania’s cervical cancer cases are diagnosed among women age 50 or over.

Pennsylvania Medical Society member Charles A. Castle, MD, a Lancaster County obstetrician/gynecologist adds, “Younger women are more concerned with pregnancy and birth control so they schedule regular pelvic exams and pap tests (cervical cancer screening). Unfortunately, once they’ve passed their childbearing years, many women come in less often. And those missed visits can mean the difference between an easily-treatable, pre-cancerous lesion and cervical cancer.”

How often you should have a pap test depends on a variety of factors, including age and health history. No matter what, schedule an annual gynecologic exam—for peace of mind and for your good health. For more information about cervical cancer prevention, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website and click on Women’s Health. The American Cancer Society website contains valuable information about cervical and other cancers.
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