I’m going to start out the New Year with a blog about an important health topic. January is recognized as Cervical Health Awareness Month.

Did you know that cervical cancer is the easiest female cancer to prevent? It is preventable, with regular screening tests and follow-up. It is also highly curable when found early.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. There are two tests that can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early. The Pap test, or Pap smear, looks for precancerous cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if not treated. The HPV test looks for the virus itself.

There is a vaccine available for HPV, and we do offer it here at Ireland, though if someone already has dysplasia, it may be less effective.

I encourage females to take a moment during this first month of the New Year to think about your health and well-being. Schedule your well-woman exam if you are due. If you have any questions at all, you should not hesitate to talk to your healthcare provider. There is no better time than now to take charge of your health.