Cervical Health Awareness Month
Chapa-De Health Care Auburn Grass Valley
Each year, more than 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 79 million Americans are diagnosed with Human Papillomavirus or HPV. Chapa-De wants to remind our patients of the importance of women’s health and taking the proper precautions to prevent HPV, which is the major cause of cervical cancer.
What is HPV?
- Human Papillomavirus refers to a group of viruses that can infect the skin and has over 100 different varieties.
- HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact and usually does not show any symptoms.
- Roughly 14 million new cases of sexually transmitted HPV cases occur in the U.S. each year accounting for 70% of men and women coming into contact with it during their life.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers today. It is important for women to receive regular cervical cancer screenings which can be used to find abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. The most traditional test used to determine if a woman could have pre-cancerous cells in her cervix is called a Pap test. Depending on your age, the tests that the doctor decides to administer might change to an HPV test as well. HPV tests can find any of the high-risk types of HPV that are most commonly found in cervical cancer.
What to do to prepare for a Pap and/or HPV test:
- Try to schedule the test on a day where you do not expect to be on your menstrual period.
- Avoid sexual intercourse 48 hours before the test.
- Do not use tampons, vaginal creams, foams, films or jellies for 48 hours before the test.
Regular Pap tests and HPV screenings will detect virtually all pre-cancerous changes and cervical changes.
To make an appointment with your Primary Care Provider or to schedule a cervical cancer screening at one of our Chapa-De Health Centers, please call (530) 887-2800 for Auburn or (530) 477-8545 for Grass Valley.
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Chapa-De provides medical care, dental care, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy services and much more.
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Chapa-De Indian Healthcare Auburn Grass Valley