Prevention

A vaccine is now available that protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar precancers and cancers, as well as the types of HPV that cause most genital warts. At this time, the HPV vaccine has not been shown to prevent precancers or cancers in other areas of the body such as the anus, penis, or head and neck. The vaccine is given in a series of three shots and is recommended routinely for 11- and 12-year-old girls. The vaccine can also be given to girls and women aged 13 through 26 years who did not get any or all of the shots yet. The vaccine can be given beginning at age 9. Read CDC's recommendations on the use of the HPV vaccine among United States females aged 9 through 26 years old. More information about CDC's recommendations on the use of the vaccine can be found in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Cervical cancer can also be prevented or found early through regular screening (with the Pap test) and follow-up treatment. The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers (cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately). The HPV DNA test may also be used with the Pap test for women aged 30 years and older. It looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes.

Currently, screening tests for other types of HPV-associated cancers are not widely recommended.