Community Health Outreach and Education

Cervical Cancer

Lower your risk through vaccines and regular testing.

Lower Your Risk

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is the greatest risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV can also cause cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus and oropharynx (part of the throat), and it is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Nearly 80 percent of all women — and men — in the United States carry this cancer-causing virus, but most do not even know they have it.

The American Cancer Society recommends routine HPV vaccination for girls and boys starting at ages 11 or 12.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends two doses of HPV vaccine for all adolescents at age 11 or 12 years. A 3-dose schedule is recommended for those who get the first dose on or after their 15^th birthday.

Cervical cancer screening is effective for detecting and preventing cancer of the cervix. HPV and pap testing can alert your provider to abnormalities that can be treated before they actually turn into cancer.

Find a Provider or call us at 800-693-CARE.

For the Love of Health Podcast

Learn more about the HPV vaccine specifically and vaccinations in general, including effectiveness, safety tracking, and specific guidelines and recommendations, on the Vaccinations 101 episode of the ChristianaCare podcast, For the Love of Health.

More Episodes

Screening for Life and Health Care Connection

Don’t let lack of insurance or copays keep you from getting screened!

Screening for Life and the Health Care Connection Screening for Life provides payment for cancer screening tests recommended by your doctor if you meet age, income and insurance guidelines. This program is a cooperative effort of the Delaware Division of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Health Care Connection simplifies the eligibility screening process to help uninsured Delawareans access primary care and medical specialists, disease prevention services — such as cancer screenings — and helps ensure access to prescription programs, laboratory and radiology services.