What to do to lower your risk for vulvar cancer 

• Don't get infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) or HIV. You can help prevent HPV infection by not having sex as a preteen or young teen. Having sex with a condom and limiting the number of sex partners can also help. So can not having 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 diseases.

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

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

• 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. You should 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 ages 21 and older should have regular pelvic exams. They should also have regular cervical cancer screening tests. These include Pap tests with or without HPV tests.

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 can 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 21.

• Women between ages 21 and 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years. HPV testing is not useful in this age group, but may be needed if the Pap test is abnormal.

• Women between ages 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test (called co-testing) every 5 years as long as test results are normal. But it's also OK to keep having Pap tests 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 20 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 damaged 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.