Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (also called the womb), where it connects to the vagina.
Cervical cancer can occur in anyone with a cervix – including cis women, trans men, and nonbinary people assigned female at birth.
Risk Factors
The most common cause of cervical cancer is infection with a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. Most sexually active people get an HPV infection at some point in their lives, but only some women who have it will get cervical cancer.
You also may be more at risk for cervical cancer if you:
- Smoke
- Take birth control pills for an extended time (five or more years). Once you stop using birth control pills, your risk will gradually decrease
- Have HIV or another condition that weakens your immune system
People with risk factors do not always get cervical cancer, and people without risk factors can still get it. We do not always know why some people get cervical cancer and some people do not.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks. Be sure to tell them if you have a family history of cervical cancer.
Reduce Your Risk
To lower your risk of getting cervical cancer:
- If you smoke, make a plan to quit.
- Talk to your health care provider about the risks of taking birth control pills.
- Have regular screening tests. Screening can help find changes in cells before they turn into cancer.
- Get vaccinated against HPV if you are eligible
The HPV vaccine helps prevent infection with the types of HPV that can cause cancer. Adolescents and young adults through age 26 should receive HPV vaccination if they did not get all recommended doses when younger. Some adults ages 27 years through 45 who did not get all recommended doses when they were younger might decide to get the HPV vaccine based on discussion with their clinician.
You may be able to lower your risk for cervical cancer by using condoms during sex and limiting your number of sexual partners, but the effect of condoms in preventing HPV is currently unknown. Some research has found condom use is associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer.
Screening
Besides the HPV vaccine, routine screenings are the best way to prevent cervical cancer. The two options for screening are an HPV DNA test and a Pap test. An HPV test checks the cervix for infection with the types of HPV that most commonly cause cancer. For a Pap test, a health care professional will collect cells from the cervix to test for cancer or for signs that cancer may soon develop.
Both of these tests are usually done at your health care provider’s office, but some providers offer the option to do the HPV test at home.
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for screening are:
- Women ages 21 to 29 should get a Pap test every three years.
- Women ages 30 to 65 have a choice of:
- A Pap test alone every three years.
- An HPV test alone every five years.
- A combination of a Pap test and an HPV test every five years.
Other medical organizations have different recommendations for screening. Your health care provider may recommend one of these options more strongly.
Screening is also recommended for anyone with a cervix, including trans men and nonbinary people assigned female at birth. These recommendations apply regardless of a person’s sexual history or whether they have been vaccinated against HPV.
People who have a high risk of cervical cancer, including people with a history of a precancerous cervical lesion, might need a special screening schedule. They should check with their health care providers about what screening they need.
Where to Get a Screening Test or HPV Vaccine
Most insurance plans cover cervical cancer screening, as well as HPV vaccination for people in the recommended age range. If you do not have insurance, you may be eligible to sign up for low- or no-cost health insurance. You can also get free in-person assistance signing up for a plan.
If you do not have a health care provider, you can call 311 to find a New York City Health + Hospitals clinic near you. You can find locations to get the HPV vaccine on the NYC Health Map.
If you cannot get insurance, or if your insurance does not cover screening, you can:
- Call 311 to find a New York City Health + Hospitals location and find out if you qualify for low- or no-cost care.
- Contact the New York State Cancer Services Program, which provides cervical cancer screening to uninsured New Yorkers.
- Find information about low- or no-cost vaccine clinics on the Immunization Clinics page.