Prevention Of Vulvar Cancer

Reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases

To reduce the risk of cancer of the vulva, reduce the risk of STDs such as HPV and HIV. To reduce the risk of these conditions:

Limit the number of sexual partners. The more sexual partners you have, the greater your risk of exposure to HPV.

Use a condom every time you have sex. Condoms can protect you from HIV infection. Condoms can reduce the risk of getting HPV, but not fully protect against it.

Consider vaccination against HPV. Girls and young women might consider getting the HPV vaccine to protect against strains of the virus believed to cause most cases of cancer of the vulva.

Ask your doctor about pelvic exams

Ask your doctor how often you should have a pelvic exam. These tests allow your doctor to visually examine your vulva and manually check your internal reproductive organs to check for anomalies. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors for vulvar cancer and other pelvic cancers to determine the timing of testing the most appropriate exam for you.