Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). Most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecological cancer to prevent with regular screening tests and vaccination. It is also very curable when found and treated early.
Learn more about cervical cancer at the National Cancer Institute.
The Office on Women's Health is grateful for the additional reviews by:
Jacqueline W. Miller, M.D., FACS, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service, Medical Director, National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
All material contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.
Page last updated: May 03, 2017.
Content last reviewed: April 21, 2014.