Cervical Health Awareness Month

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Published on Thursday, 02 January 2020 12:26

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and the Andrew County Health Department wants you to know that there's a lot you can do to prevent cervical cancer.

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common infection that spreads through sexual activity. It's also a major cause of cervical cancer. About 79 million Americans currently have HPV, but many people with HPV don't know they are infected.

The good news?

• The HPV vaccine (shot) can prevent HPV.
• Cervical cancer can often be prevented with regular screening tests (called Pap tests) and follow-up care.

In honor of National Cervical Health Awareness Month, the Andrew County Health Department encourages:

• Women to start getting regular Pap tests at age 21
• Parents to make sure pre-teens get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12

Teens and young adults also need to get the HPV vaccine if they didn't get it as pre-teens. Women up to age 26 and men up to age 21 can still get the vaccine.

Taking small steps can help keep you safe and healthy.

Additionally, breastfeeding can reduce a woman's risk of cervical cancer, and the longer she breastfeeds, the lower her risk becomes. The more these cells are used for what they were designed to do, the less likely they are to mutate and reproduce. Breastfeeding can also delay a woman's menstrual cycle, which in turn reduces the amount of estrogen in a woman's system. Breastmilk contains high levels of anti-cancers which seek out abnormal cells to destroy them.