Coronavirus (COVID-19) UPDATES Click Here HOME ABOUT US SERVICES PATIENT PORTAL CAREERS GET INVOLVED CONTACT US DONATE January is Cervical Health Awareness Month! Home > About Us > Our Blog > 2016 > January > 19 > January is Cervical Health Awareness Month! January 19, 2016 Kirsten Donato | Share This Post: Around 12,900 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed and around 4,100 women will die of cervical cancer in the next year. Furthermore, around 79 million Americans currently have human papillomavirus or HPV. With regular screening and a vaccine, both cervical cancer and HPV can be prevented. What is cervical cancer? The cervix is the lower part of the uterus also called the uterine cervix. The cervix connects the main part of the uterus to the vagina The cells do not automatically become cancerous, rather the normal cells begin to develop as precancerous which eventually can become cancer There are two different kinds of cervical cancer, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma Sign and symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding, unusual discharge, and pain during sex These signs and symptoms can be caused by other conditions, please consult a health care professional if you have any of these or an irregular Pap test Risk factors for cervical cancer are: HPV infection, smoking, immunosuppression and past/current chlamydia infection What is human papillomavirus or HPV? HPV is part of a group of over 150 viruses, some which cause papillomas, also known as warts HPV can infect cells on the surface of all skin linings from the mouth and throat, to the genitals and anus HPV spreads from person to person via skin-skin contact; it can also be spread via sexual intercourse whether vaginal, anal, or oral HPV can affect both boys and girls, men and women, prevention is most effective at a younger age How can HPV be detected? A Pap test or a Pap smear A Pap smear can be done during a routine pelvic exam at your annual OB/GYN appointment A collection of cells from the cervix is taken, the cells are then placed on a glass slide and examined under a microscope for any pre-malignant/malignant cancerous changes A HPV test, which is only available for women, can also detect the virus What is the HPV vaccine and why is it important? The HPV vaccination is recommended for 11-12 year old girls and is also recommended for women age 13-26 whom did not complete the vaccine series or have not been vaccinated HPV vaccines help to target the most common HPV types causing cervical cancer. Other vaccines help to protect against genital warts HPV vaccines do not treat a pre-existing infection and they are also less effective in women who have been exposed to one or more HPV type It is important that girls and women get all three doses of the HPV vaccine to ensure efficacy 1 Comment Leave a Reply Name * Email * (Your email will not be publicly displayed.) Comment Please type the letters and numbers shown in the image. Click the image to see another captcha. ARCHIVE October 2021 September 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 CATEGORIES events news TAGS #blm 2020 50th anniversary aca affordable care act albany albany county april 2020 award winners black communities black history month black lives matter books coronavirus covid-19 dan bazile donations equinox, inc. events first responders health health disparities healthcare inequality history in the news issues legacy event maria college masks may 2021 mental health merger proposal mobile health unit national health center week news newsletter pandemic people of color primary care protesters safe @ whitney safety spectrum news students swinburne building testing times union times union center to your health vaccine walk-up testing watervliet whitney on wheels whitney young health winter CONTACTS 920 Lark Drive, Albany, NY 12207 518-465-4771 info@wmyhealth.org Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Follow Us on LinkedIn Follow Us on Instagram FREQUENTLY USED FORMS WYH Patient Welcome Packet 2020 Updated.pdf Registration Form-Fillable School-Based Health Center Registration Whitney on Wheels-CHILD Registration Form Dental Services Medical History Advance Directive Forms Guest Dosing Form Sliding Fee Scale Discount Application Travel Immunizations Packet WIC Forms COMMON LINKS Board Portal Careers Directions & Hours Donate Employee Portal Forms Services NEWSLETTER SIGNUP WYH MISSION Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center's Mission is to provide access to consistent quality healthcare without regard to income. © 2021 Whitney M Young Health Website by Web Instinct Home Sitemap Contact Us