Prevention

A vaccine is now available that protects against the types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that most often cause cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal precancers and cancers, as well as the types of HPV that cause most genital warts. At this time, the HPV vaccine has not been shown to prevent precancers or cancers in other areas of the body, such as the penis or oropharynx, although the vaccine does protect against the HPV types that are most often found in those types of cancers.

For information about who is recommended to receive the vaccine, please see HPV Vaccines.

Cervical cancerCervical cancer also can be prevented or found early through regular screening and follow-up treatment.

• The Pap testPap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers (cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately). Women aged 21–65 years should get a Pap test every three years.
• The HPV test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes. The HPV test may be used with the Pap test, if the Pap test findings aren't clear. Women between the ages of 30 and 65 years who want to wait five years between screening tests may use both the Pap and HPV tests.

If your doctor finds any abnormal results from a cervical cancer screening test, make sure to follow up in case you need treatment or further tests.

Currently, screening tests for other types of HPV-associated cancers are not recommended.