Cervical Cancer

Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer

www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge 1-800-CDC-INFO

There are five main types of cancer that affect a woman’s reproductive 

organs: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. As a group, they 

are referred to as gynecologic (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik) cancer. (A sixth 

type of gynecologic cancer is the very rare fallopian tube cancer.) 

This fact sheet about cervical cancer is part of the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts 

About Gynecologic Cancer campaign. The campaign helps women 

get the facts about gynecologic cancer, providing important “inside 

knowledge” about their bodies and health.

What is cervical cancer?

Cancer is a disease in which cells 

in the body grow out of control. 

Cancer is always named for the part 

of the body where it starts, even if it 

spreads to other body parts later. 

When cancer starts in the cervix, 

it is called cervical cancer. The 

cervix is the lower, narrow end of 

the uterus. The cervix connects the 

vagina (the birth canal) to the upper 

part of the uterus. The uterus (or 

womb) is where a baby grows when 

a woman is pregnant. 

Vagina

Fallopian Tubes

Ovaries

Uterus

Cervix

Vulva

Cervical cancer is the easiest 

gynecologic cancer to prevent with 

regular screening tests and followup. It also is highly curable when 

found and treated early.

Who gets cervical cancer?

All women are at risk for cervical 

cancer. It occurs most often in 

women over age 30. Each year, 

approximately 12,000 women in the 

United States get cervical cancer.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is 

the main cause of cervical cancer. 

HPV is a common virus that is 

passed from one person to another 

during sex. At least half of sexually 

active people will have HPV at some 

point in their lives, but few women 

will get cervical cancer. 

What are the symptoms?

Early on, cervical cancer may 

not cause signs and symptoms. 

Advanced cervical cancer may 

cause bleeding or discharge from 

the vagina that is not normal for 

you, such as bleeding after sex. 

If you have any of these signs, 

see your doctor. They may be 

caused by something other than 

cancer, but the only way to know 

is to see your doctor.

Are there tests that can 

prevent cervical cancer or 

find it early?

There are two tests that can either 

help prevent cervical cancer or 

find it early: 

• The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks 

for precancers, cell changes, on 

the cervix that can be treated, so 

that cervical cancer is prevented. 

The Pap test also can find cervical 

cancer early, when treatment is 

most effective. The Pap test is 

recommended for all women. 

The Pap test only screens

for cervical cancer. It does

not screen for any other

gynecologic cancer.

• The HPV test looks for 

HPV—the virus that can cause 

precancerous cell changes and 

cervical cancer. Talk with your 

doctor, nurse, or other health 

care professional about whether 

the HPV test is right for you. 

Inside Knowledge is an initiative that 

supports the Gynecologic Cancer 

Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or 

Johanna’s Law, which was unanimously 

passed by the U.S. House and Senate in 

December of 2006, and signed into law 

in January 2007. 
When should I get tested for 

cervical cancer?

The Pap test is one of the most 

reliable and effective cancer 

screening tests available. You 

should start getting regular Pap 

tests at age 21, or within three 

years of the first time you have 

sex—whichever happens first. 

The HPV test often is used to 

screen for cervical cancer, along 

with the Pap test, in women aged 

30 years and older. It also is used 

to provide more information when 

a Pap test has unclear results.

If you are 30 or older, and your 

screening tests are normal, your 

chance of getting cervical cancer 

in the next few years is very low. 

For that reason, your doctor may 

tell you that you will not need 

another screening test for up to 

three years. But you should still 

go to the doctor regularly for 

a check-up that may include a 

pelvic exam. 

It also is important for you to 

continue getting a Pap test 

regularly—even if you think you 

are too old to have a child, or 

are not having sex anymore. If 

you are older than 65 and have 

had normal Pap test results for 

several years, or if you have had 

your cervix removed (during an 

operation called a hysterectomy), 

your doctor may tell you it is okay 

to stop getting regular Pap tests. 

What raises a woman’s 

chance of getting 

cervical cancer?

Almost all cervical cancers are 

caused by HPV. You are more likely 

to get HPV if you started having 

sex at an early age, or if you or your 

partner have had sex with several 

others. However, any woman who 

has ever had sex is at risk for HPV. 

There are many types of HPV. 

Usually HPV will go away on its 

own, but if it does not, it may cause 

cervical cancer over time. 

In addition to having HPV, these 

things also can increase your risk of 

cervical cancer: 

• Smoking. 

• Having HIV (the virus that causes 

AIDS) or another condition that 

makes it hard for your body to 

fight off health problems.

• Using birth control pills for a long 

time (five or more years).

• Having given birth to three or 

more children.

How can I prevent 

cervical cancer?

• Get the HPV vaccine. It protects 

against the types of HPV that most 

often cause cervical, vaginal, and 

vulvar cancers. It is given in a 

series of three shots. The vaccine 

is recommended for 11 and 12 year 

old girls. It is also recommended 

for girls and women aged 13 

through 26 who did not get any 

or all of the shots when they were 

younger. (Note: The vaccine can be 

given to girls beginning at age 9.) 

• See your doctor regularly for a 

Pap test that can find cervical 

precancers. 

• Follow up with your doctor, if your 

Pap test results are not normal.

• Don’t smoke.

• Use condoms during sex.*

* HPV infection can occur in both male and female 

genital areas that are covered or protected by 

a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not 

covered. While the effect of condoms in preventing 

HPV infection is unknown, condom use has been 

associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer. 

• Limit your number of sexual partners. CDC Publication #99-9123, Revised May 2010

What should I do if 

my doctor says I have 

cervical cancer?

If your doctor says that you have 

cervical cancer, ask to be referred to 

a gynecologic oncologist—a doctor 

who has been trained to treat cancers 

like this. This doctor will work with 

you to create a treatment plan.

Where can I find free or 

low-cost Pap tests?

If you have a low income or do not 

have insurance, you may be able 

to get a free or low-cost Pap test 

through the National Breast and 

Cervical Cancer Early Detection 

Program. To learn more, call 

1-800-CDC-INFO or visit 

www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp.

Where can I find more 

information about 

cervical and other 

gynecologic cancers? 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention: 1-800-CDC-INFO or 

www.cdc.gov/cancer

National Cancer Institute: 

1-800-4-CANCER or www.cancer.gov

Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer