A doctor at Johns Hopkins Medicine who observes the month of January on cervical health wants to emphasize the importance of gynecological examinations.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions in people seeking preventive health care, but a Johns Hopkins Medicine doctor is emphasizing the importance of gynecological examinations during January, the month of cervical health awareness.
Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States, but that has changed in recent decades, mainly because of regular Pap smears.
“The combined impact of two interventions, vaccine and screening, has led to a drastic reduction in cervical cancer in our country and a real opportunity for women to be empowered to take care of their own health and well-being – which is very exciting for those of us who take care of women every day, ”said Dr. Stephanie Wethington, director of the Susan L. Burgert MD Gynecological Oncology Survival Program.
“We updated what we call a ‘Pap smear’ smear,” said Wethington.
The procedure now typically involves examining cervical cells under a microscope and testing the human papillomavirus or, in some cases, just HPV testing alone.
HPV is transmitted between people through skin-to-skin contact and is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It can lead to cancer of the cervix, anus, head and neck. But the HPV vaccine protects against that.
The vaccine is now recommended for boys and girls, and men and women, ages 9 to 45.
Wethington said that HPV is “very, very prevalent”.
“The vast majority of American men and women have been exposed to HPV at some point in their lives,” she said. “And that is where the benefit of the vaccine comes from – because no one is immune to the potential for exposure.”
Many of the more than 100 varieties of HPV can be transmitted by sexual contact. Many people have HPV and don’t know it, which means they can pass it on without knowing it to their partners.
“One of the questions I often get from people is about the fact that they have been with their partner for a long time and therefore they may not need it. But what we don’t know are the previous exhibitions and also what could change in the future, ”said Wethington.
The American Sexual Health Association is hosting a “We vs. HPV ”from 25 to 29 January, between 12 noon and 1 pm
“More than 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, an even more frustrating fact because the disease can almost always be prevented with proper vaccinations and tests,” says the group’s website.
Like the WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to chat about this article and others.
Get breaking news and daily headlines in your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2021 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located in the European Economic Area.