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Organizations
Call for Increased PAP Tests
(onlinedatingmagazine.com -
February 6, 2004) Three national public health
organizations -- the National Coalition of STD Directors
(NCSD), the American Social Health Association (ASHA),
and the National Family Planning & Reproductive
Health Association (NFPRHA) -- echoed CDC's recommendations
contained in a January report to Congress calling for
the reduction of cervical cancer incidence and deaths
by increasing Pap test screening among women.
According to the CDC report, the survival rates for
cervical cancer are more than 90% if detected early
and managed promptly. Of the estimated 4,100 women
who die from cervical cancer each year, nearly half
have never been screened for cervical cancer, and another
10% have not had a Pap test within the previous 5 years.
"Cervical cancer is entirely preventable, treatable,
and curable. Only 50 years ago, cervical cancer was
the leading cause of death among women in the United
States. Since the invention of the Pap test, the incidence
of cervical cancer in the U.S. has dropped by nearly
75%," said Judith DeSarno, President & CEO
of NFPRHA. "Yet too many women in the U.S. still
die from cervical cancer because they do not have access
to affordable gynecological care. We need to focus
on better access to Pap screening in general, better
access to the latest cancer screening technologies,
better access to appropriate follow-up treatment and
care, as well as increased funding for promising vaccine
research."
Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection
with certain types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease
in America, with approximately 75-80% of Americans
having HPV at some point in their lives. For most people,
HPV causes no ill effects and disappears on its own.
In rare instances, certain strains of HPV can develop
into cervical cancer. Of the 20 million Americans currently
infected with HPV, only about 12,200 -- or .0006% --
will develop cervical cancer.
The report noted that there is evidence that condom
use may actually reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
Possible explanations for the protective effect of
condoms against cancer may be that condom use reduces
the quantity of HPV transmitted, the likelihood of
re-exposure to HPV, or the exposure to a co-factor
for cervical cancer, such as chlamydia or genital herpes.
According to the CDC report, the best way to prevent
HPV infection is to refrain from all genital contact
with another individual. For those who are sexually
active, risk-reduction strategies like monogamy and
reducing the number of sexual partners were among the
suggestions included in the report.
The report noted that "the scientific evidence
currently available is 'not sufficient to recommend
condoms as a primary prevention strategy for the prevention
of genital HPV infection.' This is not to say that
condoms are ineffective," said James Allen, President & CEO
of ASHA. "Rather, the CDC report simply says that
the scientific evidence is inconclusive when it comes
to HPV."
"While abstinence is a public health message
that we can all support, it cannot be the only message," said
Theresa Raphael, Executive Director of NCSD. "The
reality is that 90% of Americans have sex before marriage
and, public health officials are obligated to dwell
in the real world and support an approach to STD and
cervical cancer reduction that reflects how Americans
actually live. For those who are sexually active, the
regular and correct use of condoms remains the best
protection against the transmission of all STDs."
NCSD represents the 65 Directors of public health
sexually transmitted disease prevention programs in
states, large cities/counties, and territories of the
United States, and is dedicated to advocating for effective
policies, strategies, and sufficient resources to fight
the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
ASHA has been dedicated to improving the health of
individuals, families, and communities, with a focus
on preventing sexually transmitted diseases and their
harmful consequences since 1914.
NFPRHA, founded in 1971, is a non-profit membership
organization established to assure access to voluntary,
comprehensive and culturally sensitive family planning
and reproductive health care services and to support
reproductive freedom for all. NFPRHA advocates on behalf
of Title X family planning agencies that serve more
than 4 million women in over 4,600 clinics across the
United States.
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