NPWH Survey Results

Read the correct answers below and find out how you compared with the women from the survey!

• Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable. True or False?
  
  ANSWER: TRUE.
  
  Since we know and can identify its cause (HPV), cervical cancer is virtually 100% preventable when women are routinely screened. For young women, the new HPV vaccine is another option worth considering.
  
  However, more than 50% of women surveyed answered this question wrong, and didn’t know that this type of cancer is almost entirely preventable.
  
  
• The Pap detects ovarian cancer. True or False?
  
  ANSWER: FALSE.
  
  The Pap detects cervical cancer.
  
  However, 35% of women surveyed mistakenly thought the Pap (which looks for abnormal cervical cells that can turn into cancer) detects ovarian cancer.
  
  
• The Pap is accurate enough to protect against cervical cancer, especially if a liquid-based Pap is used. True or False?
  
  ANSWER: FALSE.
  
  The truth is that the Pap – no matter what the type – fails to identify some women at risk when used alone.
  
  More than a quarter of women surveyed wrongly believed a Pap alone is accurate enough to protect against cervical cancer.
  
  
• The HPV test isn’t necessary if a woman is no longer sexually active or is in a monogamous relationship. True or False?
  
  ANSWER: FALSE.
  
  An HPV infection can remain in the body for months or even years after previous exposure!
  
  Nearly one-third of women surveyed incorrectly believed the HPV test (which directly detects cancer-causing types of the virus) isn’t necessary for women who are no longer sexually active or in a monogamous relationship.
  
  
• HPV testing is not usually covered by insurance. True or False?
  
  ANSWER: FALSE.
  
  Nearly all insurance companies cover HPV testing.
  
  Over one-third of women surveyed got this answer wrong!

The survey also found that 58 percent of women older than 30 had not heard of the HPV test and 86 percent did not recall their doctors or nurses ever talking to them about test!

Susan Wysocki, NP, president and CEO of NPWH reminds us all:

Getting the HPV test along with your Pap if you’re over 30 – when you are most at risk – provides maximum peace of mind.

How did you compare?

> Read the news release announcing the survey results.