Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix, which is a lesser known body part, is the lowest portion of the uterus which connects the uterus to the vagina. When screening for cervical cancer, cells are collected from this area and tested for high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus).
Once one of the most common causes of cancer death in American women, the incidence of cervical cancer declined significantly thanks to early screening.1 Unfortunately, over the past few years, screening has been on the decline and cervical cancer rates are rising.
Following the start of the pandemic, cervical cancer screening dropped by 94% and remained 35% below pre-pandemic levels even after stay-at-home restrictions were lifted. The HPV vaccination, one of the strongest tools we have for preventing cervical cancer, also saw rates decline by more than 70% in March 2020.2
According to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer rarely occurs in people who have been getting regular tests to screen for cervical cancer.1 Screening saves lives, yet preventable diagnoses and deaths are still happening. Lack of awareness and education, shame, fear, and access to quality healthcare with a trusted provider are just a few of the many reasons women avoid routine screening.
Additionally, the method for screening has remained the same over the years. The inconveniences of going to a doctor’s office for a cervical cancer screening test include, but are certainly not limited to: time, geography, and the perceived and actual discomfort of screening exams.
We cannot let these factors continue to impede all of the progress that’s been made in women’s health—especially for a disease that is so preventable.
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