Vulvar Cancer: Prevention

There is no sure way to prevent vulvar cancer. Some risk factors for this cancer, such as your age and family history, are not within your control. But there are things you can do that may help lower your risk of getting it.

The best thing you can do to prevent vulvar cancer is to lower the risks you can control. Also get regular gynecological exams. Some providers may also advise self-exams of the vulva.

What to do to lower your risk for vulvar cancer 

• Protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) or HIV. You can help prevent HPV infection by not having sex as a teen or preteen. Having sex using a condom and limiting sex partners can also help. Don't have sex with people who have had a lot of partners. Condoms give some protection against HPV, but not full protection. Still, if you use them correctly every time, they help prevent the spread of HIV and many other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

• Get the HPV vaccine. Talk with your healthcare provider about the vaccine for HPV. Ask if it's right for you. 

• Don’t smoke. Smoking raises your risk for vulvar cancer, as well as many other kinds of cancer. Ask your healthcare provider for help quitting.

• Do self- exams. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you do regular self-exams to find any changes in your vulva. You can do this by using a mirror once a month to look for any red, irritated, dark, or white spots on your vulva. Also look for bumps, ulcers, or moles that are new or have changed. See your provider if you notice any changes.

• Get regular Pap tests and pelvic exams. Women should have regular pelvic exams. They should also have regular cervical cancer screening tests. These include Pap tests with or without HPV tests. Expert groups have different advice for what age to start. Ask your provider what screening tests and schedule is right for you.

Cancer screening tests

Screening tests check for signs of disease in people who don't have any symptoms. They are used to find and treat any precancers. They can also help find cancer early. This is when it's small, hasn't spread, and may be easier to treat.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) says that women should have regular checkups to help find certain gynecologic cancers. Your healthcare provider will look at your vulva during these checkups. A pelvic exam and maybe a Pap test and HPV testing might also be done. During a pelvic exam, your healthcare provider will also feel your uterus, vagina, cervix, and other reproductive organs. This is done to check for any changes.

Here are the ACS recommendations for how often you should have Pap tests, HPV tests, and pelvic exams. These are screening guidelines for gynecological cancers if you’re at average risk. Talk with your provider about your risk. If you're at high risk, you may need a different screening plan.

• All women should start routine screening at age 25.

• Women between ages 25 and 65 should have a HPV test every 5 years. If that's not available, screening may be done with a Pap test plus an HPV test (called co-testing) every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years.

• Women older than 65 who have had regular screening with normal results in the past 10 years may stop screening for cervical cancer. Once screening is stopped, it should not be started again.

• Women who had a serious precancer should continue screening for at least 25 years after that diagnosis, even if it goes beyond age 65.

• A woman who has had a hysterectomy with the cervix removed for reasons not related to cervical or uterine cancer and has no history of cervical cancer, serious precancer, or a weak immune system, should not be screened.

• A woman who has had a hysterectomy but still has her cervix should follow the above guidelines based on her age.

• A woman who has been vaccinated against HPV should still follow the screening guidelines for her age group.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises women to get Pap tests starting at age 21. Talk to your provider about screening tests and what schedule is right for you.