Finding an OB-GYN in Minnesota can be difficult, in quite a literal sense. In more than 20 counties, it is impossible. Women in those areas may need to drive 60 to 120 miles for a cervical cancer screening or follow-up appointment, a burden that often pushes routine care further down an already crowded list of priorities.
That distance matters. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it remains one of the deadliest for women in the United States. When screenings are delayed or skipped, early warning signs are missed, and outcomes worsen.
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, a national observance first promoted by the National Cervical Cancer Coalition and later recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Minnesota, about 200 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year. Of those patients, an estimated 50 to 60 will die from the disease. Screening rates are lowest in rural counties and in tribal communities, where access to care is already limited.
Even for women who live near a clinic, cost can be a barrier. While Pap tests are covered under most insurance plans, follow-up care, including colposcopies and biopsies, can generate bills that discourage patients from returning. Uninsured and underinsured women face the steepest hurdles.
If you are unsure when your last Pap test was, you are not alone.
Many women are overdue for screening, and national rates have not fully rebounded since the pandemic.
Current guidelines recommend beginning cervical cancer screening at age 21. From ages 21 to 29, a Pap test is advised every three years. From 30 to 65, women can continue with a Pap test every three years or choose HPV testing every five years. After 65, women with a long history of normal results may be able to stop screening.
Early detection remains critical. State data shows that a significant share of Minnesota patients are diagnosed only after symptoms appear, rather than through routine screening. Late-stage diagnoses require more aggressive treatment and carry far worse outcomes.
Screening, however, is only part of prevention. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination plays a major role, and Minnesota’s vaccination rates still lag behind national goals. The vaccine protects against the strains of HPV responsible for most cervical cancer. Public health officials cite access issues, misinformation, and missed child wellness visits as ongoing challenges.
Routine HPV vaccination is recommended at ages 11 to 12, with the option to start as early as age 9. Younger immune systems respond more strongly, producing a longer-lasting immune response than vaccination later in life. Starting earlier also gives families more flexibility to complete the series on time. Catch-up vaccination is available through age 26, while adults ages 27 to 45 may choose vaccination after discussing risks and benefits with a clinician.
For most women, cervical cancer is not something they think about until they have to. It is easy to postpone a test, miss a follow-up, or assume there will be time later. Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder that prevention rarely feels urgent until it is.
When screening and vaccination are delayed, the consequences are measured in more aggressive treatments, harder recoveries, and lives lost to a disease that does not have to be fatal. Making space for routine care now can mean avoiding far harder decisions later.
As January winds down, it’s worth taking a moment to check when your next screening is due or to nudge the women you care about to do the same.
For more information, visit the National Cervical Cancer Coalition website at nccc-online.org or the American Association for Cancer Research at aacr.org.
