Have regular smear tests
This can help to spot any changes to cervical cells before they turn cancerous. If you are aged 25-44 you should have a smear test every 3 years. If you are aged 45-60 you should have a smear test every 5 years.
Don’t smoke
Not smoking will make it easier for your body to fight an HPV infection and reduce the risk of cancerous changes in the cells in your cervix.
Get vaccinated against HPV
The HPV vaccine protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. This is why the HPV vaccine is offered to all girls in first year in second level schools to protect them from cervical cancer in adulthood.
Visit www.HPV.ie for more information about HPV.
221+ Patient Support Group thanks the Irish Cancer Society for permission to use the text of their booklet Cervical Cancer, What You Should Know
and acknowledges the contribution of the original authors of the booklet.