It's important for women of all ages to understand the risk for cervical cancer. Why? Because they may be at risk for the disease and not even know it. Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer in women. This year,  more than 4,000 women will die of this disease in the U. S. alone. But the good news is that it can be prevented.

 The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, affecting 75 percent or more of sexually active women sometime in their life. Many people never know they have the virus. It often has no symptoms and can go away on its own. However, in some women, certain strains of HPV cause changes to the cells in the cervix, which then can become cancerous.

Most women with HPV will never get cervical cancer. But the following risk factors increase the likelihood of getting cervical cancer:

• Long-term oral contraceptive use
• Having many sexual partners
• Smoking
• Having multiple, full-term pregnancies

It's important to get regular check-ups including a Pap test

Consult with your family physician and your gynecologist and be sure to follow their recommendations about screening for cervical cancer. There's no cure for HPV, but there is a highly effective treatment for the pre-cancerous cells it can cause. The key is detection. Regular Pap screenings can successfully identify these "warning" cells for treatment before they have the chance to turn cancerous.

In addition, an HPV vaccine is available. The vaccine, which is recommended for girls and boys between ages 11 and 12, has the potential to greatly reduce cervical cancer by preventing some HPV infections. However, keep in mind that women who receive the HPV vaccine still need to get their regular Pap screenings. That's because the vaccine does not guard against all strains of the HPV virus.