Every year, around 11,500 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the United States. But did you know that you can prevent cervical cancer with two simple steps? Get checked and vaccinated.

Mecklenburg County Public Health makes it easy and affordable for you to access screenings and vaccines that can help protect your health and save lives.

Step One: Get Checked

Routine screenings are your first line of defense! Cervical cancer is highly treatable and associated with long survival rates when found early, which is why routine screenings are so important.

Public Health provides cervical cancer screenings (pap smears) to women ages 21-64. Women who are uninsured or underinsured and Mecklenburg County residents at or below 250% of the federal poverty level may be eligible for free or low-cost screenings through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings Program. Public Health also provides abnormal pap smear follow-ups.

Step Two: Get Vaccinated

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection. According to the CDC, at least half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. Most HPV infections are asymptomatic and go away on their own. But some types of HPV can cause abnormal cells that may develop into cancer.

There is a vaccine for HPV that provides safe and effective protection against the HPV infections that can cause cancer. The CDC recommends two doses of HPV vaccine at ages 11–12. You can still get the vaccine if you’re under 26 and haven’t been vaccinated yet. The HPV vaccine is available at the Mecklenburg County Public Health Immunization Clinic.

Take these two simple steps to protect your health and prevent cervical cancer!