C
ervical Health Awareness Month
is a chance to raise awareness
about how women can protect
themselves from HPV (human
papillomavirus) and cervical cancer. HPV
is a very common infection that spreads
through sexual activity, and it causes almost
all cases of cervical cancer.
About 79 million Americans currently
have HPV. Many people with HPV don’t
know they are infected. And each year, more
than 11,000 women in the United States get
cervical cancer.
The good news?
• The HPV vaccine (shots) can prevent
HPV.
• Cervical cancer can often be prevented
with regular screening tests and
follow-up care. HOW CAN CERVICAL HEALTH
AWARENESS MONTH MAKE A
DIFFERENCE?
We can use this opportunity to spread
the word about important steps women can
take to stay healthy.
Here are just a few ideas:
• Encourage women to get their well-
woman visit this year.
• Let women know that most insurance
plans must cover well-woman visits and
cervical cancer screening. This means
that, depending on their insurance,
women can get these services at no cost
to them.
• Talk to parents about how important
it is for their pre-teens to get the HPV
vaccine. Both boys and girls need the
vaccine.
Cervical cancer screenings can help
detect abnormal (changed) cells early,
before they turn into cancer.
Most deaths from cervical cancer could
be prevented by regular screenings and
follow-up care. HOW CAN I HELP SPREAD THE WORD?
We’ve made it easier for you to make a
difference. This toolkit is full of ideas to help
you take action today. For example:
• Add information about HPV and
cervical cancer prevention to your
newsletter.
• Tweet about Cervical Health Awareness
Month.
• Add this Web badge to your website.
• Host a community event to raise aware-
ness about cervical health.
https://healthfinder.gov/nho/JanuaryToolkit.aspx
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