January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Today we are sharing 10 facts about cervical cancer and how it can impact your fertility. Feel free to click on the links below for more detailed information about cervical cancer.
1. Cervical cancer is the second most commonly occurring cancer in women.
2. Pap smears are crucial in detecting and preventing many cases of cervical cancer each year in the United States. The majority of women with cervical cancer were probably skipping their annually recommended Pap smears (or not following their doctor’s recommendations afterward).
3. Most women with cervical cancer are diagnosed after age 35.
4. Women with cervical cancer rarely have symptoms until the cancer is advanced.
5. Smoking can increase the risk of cervical cancer (and a host of other infertility problems). If you smoke, quit today to protect your fertility.
6. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause of cervical cancer.
7. An HPV vaccine, Gardasil, is FDA-approved to prevent and reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Ask your doctor about this vaccine if you are younger than 26.
8. HPV is largely spread through sexual contact – so practice safe sex. (Condoms are helpful but do not always prevent the spread of HPV).
9. Having sex with multiple partners can also increase your risk of cervical cancer, so be wise when it comes to your love life.
10. Treatments for cervical cancer, including radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical treatments, often lead to infertility and sterility. However, some women with cervical cancer qualify for fertility sparing surgery. In these procedures, doctors are able to treat cervical cancer without affecting the entire cervix, protecting a woman’s ability to get pregnant.
If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and are hoping to become pregnant one day, talk to your doctor about fertility preservation. This conversation about fertility preservation needs to happen as soon as possible after cancer diagnosis, and may offer you a chance of getting pregnant after cancer treatment.
For more information about cervical cancer, check out the Attain Fertility article series on Cancer and Fertility.
Britt Berg is Content Manager and medical writer for Attain Fertility. Co-author of Making a Baby, Britt is obsessed with all things fertility, pregnancy, and birthing.
