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Prevention

There are 3 ways to prevent Cervical Cancer

• Prevent pre-cancers by decreasing your risk factors
• Find and treat pre-cancers before they turn into cancer
• Get the HPV vaccine

The HPV vaccine, Gardisil ®, protects against the types of HPV that most commonly cause cervical cancer and genital warts. It does not protect against all HPV types that cause cervical cancer. So cervical cancer screenings are still recommended. The vaccine is approved for girls age 9-26.

The vaccine will not treat or cure HPV, however, it may help you from becoming infected with other types of HPV that are contained in the vaccine.

It is not recommended for:

• Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to yeast, to any other component of HPV vaccine, or to a previous dose of HPV vaccine should not get the vaccine.
• Pregnant women
• People who are ill when the shot is scheduled.