Table 4 Misconceptions related to cervical cancer screening
Misconception categories | Misconceptions |
|---|---|
HPV transmission | Can get HPV from hanging laundry to dry in an environment where there is a lot of dirt |
Can get HPV from a bathroom | |
Are more prone to infections, like HPV, because you are standing for long periods of time | |
Urinary infections can lead to HPV and cervical cancer | |
Having bad personal hygiene can lead to HPV and cervical cancer | |
Only get HPV if you have more than one partner | |
Cervical cancer | Cervical cancer involves tying the fallopian tubes |
Everyone is born with cancer; it’s just a matter of when you will develop it | |
There is no cure for cancer | |
Pap smear | A pap smear can “wake up” the cancer |
A pap smear requires providers to remove a small piece of skin from the cervix | |
A pap smear is a pregnancy test | |
A pap smear can identify different types of gynecological conditions or cancers | |
A pap smear is for removing IUDs |