HPV and Cervical Cancer: What's the Connection?

Each year, approximately 88,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. The five main gynecologic cancers are cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. Of all gynecologic cancers, only cervical has a screening test that helps prevent the disease and can also find it early, when treatment works best.

Cervical cancer is a serious disease that takes the life of about 10 women each day in the U.S. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus and the cause of several cancers, including cervical cancer.

Michael L. Pearl, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist; Professor and Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Stony Brook Medicine is available to discuss the connection between HPV and cervical cancer, current screening recommendations and the HPV vaccines.