The prevalence of cervical cancer disproportionately affects African American and Hispanic populations as well as people of low socioeconomic status. It is estimated that only 7% of women who develop cervical cancer have a genetic component. Other factors that increase one's risk of developing cervical cancer include having a compromised immune system, being infected with HIV, and smoking. Furthermore, women who use contraception and have had a previous history of sexually transmitted diseases are at increased risks of contracting HPV, and subsequently cervical cancer, likely due to their engagement in high risk sexual activity. The best thing that you can do as a woman to prevent cervical cancer is to be proactive when it comes to your personal health and well-being. The goal here should be primary prevention and early diagnosis. Personally, when it comes to cervical cancer these are two areas that I like to focus on with my patients. So, what is primary prevention? Primary prevention are practices that are implemented ideally prior to exposure of a disease to decrease the chances of contracting it. Take the flu for example. Every year millions of people get the Influenza vaccine at the beginning of “Flu Season” in hopes of not contracting the Flu virus should they be exposed. Similarly, most children get vaccinations at birth or in early childhood for the same purpose, and the list goes on.
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