Vaginal Cancer Prevention

How to Prevent Vaginal Cancer

Like many types of cancer, vaginal cancer cannot be prevented in all cases. There are a few things a woman can do to reduce her risk factor for developing vaginal cancer. The best ways to prevent vaginal cancer is to try to avoid the risk factors for the disease.

How to Reduce Your Risk Factor for Vaginal Cancer

The best way a woman can reduce her risk factor for developing vaginal cancer is to try to avoid being infected with HPV, a sexually transmitted virus. HPV is an extremely common virus. In fact, about 80% of women are infected by the age of 50.

HPV can cause many types of cancer, including cervical cancer. Researchers believe there may be a link between vaginal cancer and HPV.

Although there is no sure method to preventing HPV, there are a few things a woman can do to reduce the risk:

Her sexual partner should always wear a condom correctly during intercourse. Recent research shows that condoms provide some protection against HPV.

Limit the amount of sexual partners.

There is a test available that can determine if a woman has HPV. The HPV test is routinely given to women along with a Pap smear at age 30.

A Pap smear may also be able to detect some cases of vaginal cancer before symptoms are experienced.