Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix and is caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). HPV is a common virus spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It lives on the skin around the genital area.
Cervical cancer is only part of the HPV story. HPV can cause six types of cancer, affecting both women and men. Condoms don't offer full protection against HPV, but they do lower the risk.
Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV and most people clear the virus without ever knowing they had it. Conversely, in people living with HIV, a weakened immune system makes it harder for the body to clear HPV naturally. If the virus stays longer it has more opportunity to cause cell changes that can lead to cancer. Women living with HIV are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women without HIV.
Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination. The HPV vaccine helps protect you from HPV-related cancers before they develop. It also protects against HPV types that can cause genital warts.
Cervical screening, on the other hand, can stop cervical cancer before it starts by finding abnormal cell changes before they become cancerous, when treatment can be more effective. This is especially important because symptoms often don't show until the disease is advanced. Women living with HIV are usually recommended to have more frequent screening than women without HIV, as HIV can weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to clear HPV naturally.
