Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Those abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.

Infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV) is almost always the cause of cervical cancer. Not all women with HPV infection, however, will develop cervical cancer. Women who do not regularly have tests to detect HPV or abnormal cells in the cervix are at increased risk of cervical cancer. The vast majority of cervical cancers could be prevented with Pap tests and HPV vaccination.

Cervical cancer, an often preventable cancer, was estimated to be diagnosed in 13,360 women living in the United States in 2025, with about 4,320 women expected to have died of the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.

about cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is a disease in which cancer cells arise in the cervix, which connects the uterus to the vagina. HPV is almost always the cause of cervical cancer, which is why vaccines against the virus are an important part of cervical cancer prevention strategies. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three vaccines—Gardasil, Gardasil 9, and Cervarix—that prevent infection with certain subtypes of HPV including 16 and 18, two high-risk HPVs that cause some 70% of cervical cancers. 

A study found that cervical precancer incidence (defined as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or CIN2+) decreased 79.5% and higher-grade precancer incidence (CIN3+) decreased 80% from 2008 to 2022 in the United States among women 20-24 years old. The study’s authors point out that women in this age group are most likely to have been vaccinated, and that incidence of CIN3+ only decreased 37% in women 25-29 years old, who were less likely to have been vaccinated during this period.

In another study conducted in Scotland, data found no cases of cervical cancer among women born between January 1, 1988, and June 5, 1996 who had been vaccinated at 12 or 13 years old, no matter how many doses of the vaccine they received. Current U.S. recommendations call for two doses of the vaccine for those under 15 and three doses for those between 15 and 26 years. However, a study led by Aimée R. Kreimer, PhD, of National Cancer Institute, found that one dose was no less effective than two doses in protecting against HPV16/18 infection, with either dosage resulting in at least 97% vaccine efficacy. These results were originally presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025.

Usually, cervical cancer develops slowly over time, and another powerful preventive measure is Pap test screening, a procedure during which cells are collected from the surface of the cervix and examined. The Pap test can both detect cancer at an early stage, when treatment outcomes tend to be better, and detect precancerous abnormalities, which can then be treated to prevent them from developing into cancers.

Cervical Cancer Screening (NCI) Cervical Cancer Prevention (NCI) Cervical Cancer Treatment (NCI)

Source: National Cancer Institute