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You’re in your late 20’s and enjoying your life to the fullest. You may have a busy career, specific dreams for your future, and an exciting social life. Then, just a doctor’s visit changes everything. You learn about cervical cancer, and everything starts to feel unsure. This is a bitter reality for many women, and all of this begins with simple incautions. Not getting frequent HPV testing or pap smears can be one of the main reasons behind this severe condition. Don’t let these small mistakes ruin your life! Read on to explore more about the causes, risk factors, prevention, and signs of cervical cancer.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer can be found anywhere in your cervix. It mainly affects women under age 45. The cervix is simply the opening between the womb and the vagina. This cancer grows slowly, and its severity depends on how large it is and if there is any spread. According to the WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in females worldwide. Cervical cancer led to 342,000 deaths in the year 2020. It’s always vital to get signs of cervical cancer checked as early as possible.
Causes of Cervical Cancer
Certain types of HPV, a virus, mainly cause cervical cancer.
- HPV spreads through sex and skin contact.
- It can be transmitted during oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
- Sharing sex toys also puts you at risk.
Signs of Cervical Cancer
There are no signs of cervical cancer at the early stages. Although a few of the symptoms of cervical cancer include:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Intense periods than normal
- Bleeding between your menstrual periods
- Bleeding after the menopause
- Changes to your vaginal discharge
- Discharge with blood in it
- Discharge with unusual or strong smell.
Pain while having sex and pelvic pain are a few other signs of cervical cancer.
Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer
Learning only about the causes and signs of cervical cancer isn’t enough to fight this disease. You must also have proper knowledge about prevention and risk factors.
- Smoking
Smoking is dangerous to your health and can make it easier for HPV infection to cause this cancer.
- More numbers of sexual partners
The risk of cervical cancer is high if you have more sexual partners. The same applies to your partner, too!
- Sex at a younger age
Getting involved in sexual activity at a young age can also increase the chances of cervical cancer or HPV.
A few other infections, such as HIV, chlamydia, and herpes, increase the risk of getting HPV. This can cause cervical cancer.
- Weak immune system
Other health issues that weaken your immune system are that there is a chance that you will be prone to cervical cancer.
- DES medicine
If your mother took a medicine – diethylstilbestrol (DES), while pregnant with you, it could increase the chances of getting diagnosed with cervical cancer. This medicine was used to prevent miscarriages in the early 1950s.
Prevention Tips for Cervical Cancer
- Tip no.1: Talk about the HPV vaccine to your doctor. This can reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.
- Tip no.2: Have pap tests frequently. This can help you identify the pre-cancerous changes in your cervix early. It is recommended to start Pap tests at the age of 21 and continue it for a few years.
- Tip no.3: Be safe while having sex. Limited sexual partners and using condoms can reduce the risk of HPV and cervical cancer.
- Tip no.4- Stop smoking. If you smoke, try consulting your doctor. They can help you stop. Smoking makes it hard for your body to combat cancer.
- Tip no. 5- Get HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine is suggested for routine vaccination at age 11 or 12, but it can start as early as 9. Ideally, everyone should get vaccinated by age 26. The number of doses needed depends on the age at which you start the vaccination series. While not routinely recommended for adults over 26, adults up to age 45 can discuss HPV vaccination with their doctor if they weren’t vaccinated earlier.
When Can You Stop Having Regular Screenings?
According to the ACOG, you can stop regular cervical screenings if:
- You’re above age 65
- Your HPV and Pap tests have been negative for more than 10 years
- No past treatment for cervical problems
What are the 2 Main Types of Cervical Cancer Screening?
Screening allows you to identify the early signs of cervical cancer. There are 2 main types of cervical cancer screening:
- Pap Test: During this, a doctor collects your cervix cells with the help of a soft brush. These cells are afterward checked for any kind of changes that can cause cancer.
- HPV Test: This test is carried out to check for a virus (HPV), which may lead to cervical cancer.
Conclusion
Early detection is key. Even if there are no signs of cervical cancer early on, regular screenings help catch any issues. If you worry about cervical cancer, talk to your doctor, and set up screenings. Finding it early and treating it makes things better. Schedule a cervical cancer screening with Cellmaflex now and stay in control of your health. Take charge of your health! Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced and caring OB-GYNs:
- Dr. T. Sankar
- Dr. S. Persaud
- Dr. V. Harry
- Dr. E. Brathwaite
- Dr. M. Robinson
- Dr. Natalie Chaitan
Disclaimer: Please note that the information is strictly for informative purposes. It is not intended to be used in lieu of professional medical advice, inclusive of diagnosis or treatment. It is strongly advised that you seek a doctor’s medical advice on any treatment or medical condition that you learn about.
Learn more with these sites:
World Health Organization – Cervical cancer
Cleveland Clinic – Cervical cancer
The British Medical Journal – Cervical cancer
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – Cervical cancer
