January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and Valley View wants you to know that there’s a lot you can do to prevent cervical cancer. The good news is cervical cancer can often be prevented with regular screening tests and follow-up care.

HPV (human papillomavirus) is the most common sexually transmitted disease. It’s also a major cause of cervical cancer. About 79 million Americans currently have HPV, but many people with HPV don’t know they are infected.

The good news?

• HPV can be prevented by the HPV vaccine.
• Cervical cancer can often be prevented with regular screening tests (called Pap tests) and follow-up care.
• In honor of National Cervical Health Awareness Month, Valley View encourages:

• Women to start getting regular Pap tests at age 21
• Women to get the HPV vaccine before age 27
• Parents to make sure their pre-teens get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12
• Men to get the HPV vaccine if you are under age 22