Every year, about 12,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 American women die of the disease. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths among women. The good news is that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers: when caught early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, an excellent opportunity for health care providers like Planned Parenthood to remind women to get screened for the disease. We are here to provide professional, nonjudgmental, confidential care no matter what.

In the most recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control, Latinas had the highest incidence of cervical cancer and were the third most likely group to die of the disease. African-American women had the second highest incidence of cervical cancer but were more likely than any other group of women to die of it. These outcomes reflect a larger problem of unequal access to health care. We understand institutional racism plays a tremendous role in health disparities, and we are working tirelessly with health care and social justice organizations to ensure women from all populations know that when they come to our centers, they will be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. Further, Planned Parenthood provides high-quality health care services regardless of a patient’s race, ethnicity, income, insurance or immigration status. Our services are low-to-no-cost and most of our patients qualify for no-cost care.

In 2010, Planned Parenthood health centers across the United States provided 770,000 Pap tests and more than 34,000 Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. We also provided advance testing and treatment for thousands of women with abnormal Pap tests and precancerous conditions. In fact, cancer screening and prevention accounted for 14.5 percent of Planned Parenthood’s health services nationwide.

Routine screening and vaccination against HPV can protect women against cervical cancer. That’s why it’s important for women to know when and how often to take these important protective measures. The guidelines for cervical cancer screening have changed, and most women need it less frequently than previously recommended, but they should still make routine screening a priority and continue visits with their provider for other, more frequent reproductive health screenings and family planning services.

In 2012 several health advisory groups and medical professional organizations reviewed years of data and updated their recommendations for how often women should be screened for cervical cancer. Planned Parenthood’s updated guidelines reflect those recommendations and call for Pap screening to begin at age 21 and for most women to be screened every three years up to age 29. For women aged 30 to 64, most should have routine screenings performed every three years using Pap testing or every five years using combined Pap and HPV testing. While cervical cancer screening guidelines now call for less frequent testing for most women, regular women’s wellness continues to be a crucial part of staying healthy and preventing disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HPV vaccination for girls aged 11 and 12. In order to be most effective, HPV vaccination should occur prior to the start of sexual intimacy. The HPV vaccine is a major breakthrough in the fight to prevent cervical cancer and should be considered a routine, normal part of health care.
Screening for cervical cancer is essential during most of a woman’s adult life, even if she is not currently engaging in sexual activity or if her partner is a woman. Women should go to a health care provider to get regular Pap tests, even if they are not seeing a provider for prescription contraception.

One in five women has turned to Planned Parenthood at some point in her life for professional, nonjudgmental, and confidential care. We serve nearly three million patients annually through our health care services, and another 1.1 million through our educational programs.

As the nation’s leading women’s health care provider, advocate, and educator, Planned Parenthood encourages every woman to visit her health care provider regularly to receive a checkup that may include contraceptive counseling and birth control prescriptions, breast exams, testing for STDs, including HIV, and cervical cancer screening, when indicated.

Cervical Health Awareness Month is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of reproductive and sexual health care, but Planned Parenthood is here all year with an open mind, a caring touch and accurate medical information.