Cervical cancer is one rare type of cancer that is completely preventable. This can be done by ensuring you are away from human papillomavirus (HPV), which spreads through sexual transmission. HPV is known to be the primary cause of cervical cancer. However, having HPV does not always mean that a person will necessarily develop cervical cancer.

Let us take a look at the most effective tips to prevent cervical cancer:

1. Follow up on the abnormal Pap smears
It is essential to keep following up on any abnormal Pap smears. You should immediately contact your doctor if there is any infection. The doctor will then complete the treatment and follow up with a Pap test in the future. The results of the Pap tests may show something other than the infection itself. In such cases, the doctor will then suggest that you go through some more tests to pinpoint the exact problem. There are a few cases where the doctor has performed an HPV DNA test if the woman has had abnormal test results on her Pap test. This would successfully detect the HPV on the cervix of the woman.

2. Get your vaccination
Two specific vaccines are known to provide protection against types of HPV that are the causes of a majority of cervical cancer. These two vaccines are called Gardasil and Cervarix, and they also protect against anal cancers in men. Check with your doctor about the dosage you should be taking per day. You should ideally get vaccinated before you are exposed to HPV. It is not a problem if you have not taken it in your childhood; you can take the vaccination before turning 26 years of age. Even if you are infected with one or more types of HPV, the vaccine can still protect against other HPV types.

3. Keep going for Pap tests
Doctors need to detect any changes that have occurred on your cervix’s cells to take swift action to treat it before cervical cancer starts to develop. Pap tests help the doctors to detect such changes. This is why women should go for Pap tests at least once every three years.

4. Do not smoke
We all know the harms of smoking. It is a vice because of which many people suffer from numerous health complications. The most common risk factor of smoking is throat cancer. However, what many people do not know is that smoking can also double the risk of cervical cancer. This is why you should avoid such vices.

5. Take precautions during sex
Women who have many sexual partners risk developing cervical cancer. Unprotected sex can lead to the woman contracting sexually transmitted diseases, so they should always use protection while having sex.

So, these were some of the most common tips to prevent cervical cancer.