Let’s be honest — most women don’t see a gynecologist every year. Not because they don’t care, but because they feel good, nothing seems wrong, and it’s easy to put it off for later.
The problem is that cervical cancer develops in exactly this way — quietly.
In the United States, about 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year, and about 4,000 women die from this disease.
Most importantly, many of these cases could be prevented if precancerous changes were detected in time through regular screening.
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, so we’d like to share trusted, doctor-reviewed information about cervical cancer.
The most common reasons women don’t attend cervical screening:
- “I’m afraid I’ll get ‘bad’ results.”
- “I feel healthy, so I don’t think I need screening.”
- “I didn’t receive an invitation or reminder.”
- “I don’t have time for unnecessary appointments.”
- “It will hurt.”
These concerns are very real — but they often come from uncertainty or missing information.
Cervical cancer is a disease that can often be prevented. It develops slowly and silently, usually with no symptoms for a long time — often over 10–20 years.
The first symptoms — such as unusual bleeding, changes in vaginal discharge, pain during sex, or pelvic pain — usually appear in the later stages.
That means there’s time to notice early changes and stop the process while it’s still at the precancerous stage.
What causes cervical cancer?
The main risk factor for cervical cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV).
It’s important to understand:
- Most people will be exposed to HPV at some point in their lifetime
- Not everyone who gets HPV will develop health problems
- Cervical cancer can develop when a high-risk HPV infection stays in the body for a long time
When it comes to HPV and cervical cancer prevention, there are still many misconceptions that make it harder to understand the real risks — and what prevention can actually do.
Myth or fact?
Myth: “Condoms don’t protect you from anything.”
Fact. Condoms significantly reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections — especially those spread through bodily fluids, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. They don’t fully protect against infections spread through skin-to-skin contact (like HPV), but they do lower the risk. That’s why condoms are an important prevention tool — just not the only one.
Myth: “If I’m not having sex, HPV isn’t something I need to worry about.”
Fact: HPV can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Penetrative sex isn’t required for transmission. Someone can also carry HPV without any symptoms and not know it.
Myth: “HPV can be cured.”
Fact: At this time, there is no treatment that eliminates HPV from the body. Healthcare providers treat the changes caused by the virus, not the virus itself. That’s why prevention and regular screening are key to avoiding serious outcomes.
Myth: “If I’m vaccinated, I don’t need screening.”
Fact: Even if you’re vaccinated, routine cervical screening is still recommended. The HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against every HPV type, which is why screening remains an essential part of prevention.
Myth: “The more often I get screened, the better.”
Fact: Research shows that screening more often than recommended doesn’t improve outcomes. Cervical cancer usually develops slowly — over 10–20 years. What matters most is following evidence-based screening guidelines, not testing more frequently than advised.
Myth: “HPV is only a women’s issue.”
Fact: HPV is common in men, too. Many men have no symptoms but can still carry and spread the virus. HPV can also cause cancers in men — including cancers of the throat (oropharyngeal), anus, and penis. Because there’s no routine HPV screening for men, vaccination and safer sex practices are especially important.
Risk factors for cervical cancer
- infection with several different types of high-risk HPV
- smoking (it weakens the local immune response in the cervix)
- long-term use of hormonal contraception in women with HPV infection (over 5 years)
- immunodeficiency conditions (such as HIV)
- having multiple births (more than 3), or giving birth for the first time before age 17
- poor nutrition or excess weight
What screening can detect
Screening tests (a Pap smear and an HPV test) can help detect:
- precancerous changes
- high-risk human papillomavirus (high-risk HPV) — persistent high-risk HPV infection is the most common risk factor for cervical cancer
If a girl becomes sexually active at, for example, 16, she shouldn’t wait until 25 to start paying attention to cervical health.
It’s recommended to have a Pap smear 3 years after becoming sexually active, or by the age of 21. It’s also recommended to get tested annually for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
This matters because the risk of cervical cancer increases with:
- early sexual activity
- having multiple sexual partners
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
How is a cervical screening performed?
A cervical screening is not painful. For some women, it may feel uncomfortable, but the procedure is quick and safe.
The test is done while you’re lying on a gynecological exam chair. A speculum is gently inserted into the vagina so the cervix can be seen. This part may feel uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful. Then a small brush is used to gently collect a sample from the surface of the cervix and the cervical canal. The sample collection usually takes up to 1 minute and is generally well tolerated.
A “standard” Pap smear (cytology test)
A standard Pap smear checks the cells from the cervix. In some cases, the sample is placed directly onto a glass slide — along with anything that may be present, such as blood, mucus, semen, remnants of vaginal medications, or bacteria. This can sometimes make the results harder to evaluate.
Liquid-based cytology (LBC)
With liquid-based cytology, the sample is first rinsed into a special liquid. In the lab, the cells are then assessed separately from most impurities. Because of this, liquid-based cytology is often considered more accurate and reliable. Another advantage: additional tests can sometimes be done from the same sample, such as HPV testing or testing for certain STIs.
How to prepare for a cervical screening
To ensure the most accurate results, it’s recommended to:
- schedule the test when you’re not on your period,
- avoid sex for 48 hours before the test,
- don’t use tampons, vaginal suppositories, or creams,
- don’t douche or rinse inside the vagina (washing the vulva is fine).
Cervical cancer prevention that works
The risk of cervical cancer can be reduced by:
- regular participation in cervical screening,
- HPV vaccination (it does not replace screening),
- quitting smoking,
- using barrier contraception (it lowers the risk, but doesn’t eliminate it completely).
Why vaccinate boys, too?
HPV isn’t dangerous only for women. In men, high-risk HPV can cause precancerous changes and cancers of the throat, penis, and anus. Low-risk HPV can cause warts in these areas.
For the vaccine to be truly effective on a population level, at least 80–90% of the target group needs to be vaccinated. This creates herd immunity, which also helps protect those who aren’t vaccinated.
* * * * *
If screening hasn’t been a priority yet, that’s something many women relate to... But cervical cancer can develop quietly over a long period of time, without any symptoms. Screening is designed to detect precancerous changes, which can be treated successfully.
It’s one of the few cancers that can often be prevented through regular screening — even when you feel healthy.
Get checked for yourself. And remind the women you care about.
When was the last time you had a cervical screening?
The information in this article is based on publicly available recommendations from gimdoskaklelis.lt and nvi.lt. The content was reviewed by obstetrician-gynecologist Prof. Dr. Kristina Jariene.
