POTSDAM - There may not be a magic pill or certain food that will keep you from getting cervical cancer, but there are steps you can take to aiding in its prevention.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and serves as the perfect reminder for women to make sure they are current with their Papanicolaou (Pap) test screenings.

“A young woman should begin gynecological Well Woman visits after she begins menstruating, becomes sexually active, or has any genital or urinary complaints” said Canton-Potsdam Hospital OB/GYN Tatiana DiCoby, DO.

Cervical cancer screenings should begin at age 21 with a Pap smear, and regular screenings will help with early detection and treatment. If a Pap smear result is abnormal, it is very important for patients to follow up with their provider for further management.

“Advanced cervical cancer can present with pelvic pain, irregular cycles, and/or abnormal discharge. Early cervical cancer is usually asymptomatic and is detected by a Pap smear or cervical biopsy,” Dr. DiCoby said.

According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC), a Pap smear is now frequently sent with co-testing for Human papilloma virus (HPV); the virus that causes almost all cases of cervical cancer.

Dr. DiCoby pointed out that receiving the HPV vaccine, eating healthy, exercising, and not smoking can help prevent cervical cancer.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12, as the vaccine produces a stronger immune response when taken during the preteen years. Parents and guardians should take note that boys are encouraged, along with girls, to receive the vaccine, as they can contract HPV and transmit it to their female partners, which could result in cervical cancer.

For more information on cervical cancer, visit the NCCC website at https://www.nccc-online.org/cervical-health-awareness-month/, or the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/index.htm. To learn how to schedule a Well Woman exam with a St. Lawrence Health OB/GYN, visithttps://www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org/services/womens-health-and-obgyn.