Cervical Cancer Prevention
Featured Expert
January 23, 2026
Cervical cancer develops in the cells of the cervix, the opening to the uterus from the vagina. In 99% of cases, it’s linked to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer are through primary prevention with the HPV vaccination, which helps protect against the virus before exposure, and secondary prevention with early detection of the HPV virus and cellular changes.
Key Points
- Early HPV vaccination (before a person first experiences sexual activity) is the most effective way to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
- Regular checkups with your gynecologist to detect HPV and changes to the cervical cells is another preventative step.
- If you have irregular bleeding or spotting, especially if you have gone through menopause, swelling in the legs or persistent backpain, contact your doctor.
- Several therapeutic vaccines are currently being studied and developed for people who already have HPV. For cervical cancer, prevention is still key.
Kimberly Levinson, M.D., M.P.H., a gynecologic oncologist and expert in cervical cancer and other gynecologic cancers, shares that the good news is, cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable through vaccination and early detection. “With the introduction of the preventive vaccine for HPV, we gained the ability to completely prevent cervical cancers,” she explains. “However, receiving the preventive vaccine before sexual activity begins is critical to preventing HPV related disease.”
How Can You Prevent Cervical Cancer?
1. Vaccination
The most effective tool to prevent is the HPV vaccine, which protects against the HPV strains most likely to cause cancer. However, as of 2023, only approximately 60% of girls and 55% of boys in the U.S. were up to date with vaccination against HPV. Therefore, a secondary method of prevention is also important.
2. Screening and Early Detection
Screening and early detection are also critical tools in preventing cervical cancer.
Screenings
Routine Pap smears and HPV testing allows doctors to identify precancerous cells in the cervix before cancers form.
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer most often does not have any symptoms in the early stages. The following symptoms are associated with later-stage cervical cancers.
- Vaginal bleeding, especially after sexual intercourse
- Swelling in the legs
- Persistent leg or back pain
It’s important to know these symptoms of cervical cancer and to talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
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What’s New in Cervical Cancer Research
Scientists are exploring innovative approaches to treat established HPV disease and therefore prevent and treat cervical cancer with innovative therapies. Several therapeutic vaccines have been developed and are currently in clinical trials.
Therapeutic Vaccines
Unlike preventive vaccines, therapeutic vaccines aim to activate your body’s cellular immunity to eliminate HPV infections that are already established. Current standard of care practice involves monitoring of HPV infections to detect cellular changes caused by the virus; however, there is no treatment to eradicate the virus. These vaccines, being studied in clinical trials, may provide an innovative therapy directed at the HPV virus.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine are testing two promising vaccines that may cause regression of cervical dysplasia and make HPV undetectable in the body. While these clinical trials are promising, for cervical cancer, “prevention is the key to everything we do,” concludes Levinson.
Medically reviewed by Kimberly Levinson, M.D., M.P.H.
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