Cervical cancer is a type of cancer where the most common symptom is abnormal bleeding from the vagina. It is malignant neoplasm of the cervical area. Some of the signs of cervical cancer are vaginal discharge and pain during sexual intercourse. Symptoms of cervical cancer are weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, pelvic pain, single swollen leg, heavy bleeding from the vagina, back pain, leg pain, leaking of urine or faeces from the vagina and bone fractures.
There are several factors contributing to cervical cancer but one of the factor which is known to develop the disease is the Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with high-risk. HPV DNA is detected in almost all the cases of cervical cancer. The other factors of cervical cancer which are implicated are not yet discovered. According to the CDC, in the USA, there are more than 6.2 million new HPV infections every year both in men and women.
There are many steps a woman can take to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer whereas some cases of cervical cancer cannot be prevented. Some of the preventive measures of cervical cancer are:
1. Quit Smoking
Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of cervical cancer. It also triggers the risk of many other types of cancer. If you are suffering from an HPV infection and continue smoking, it can actually speed up cervical dysplasia. The best way to avoid the risk of cervical cancer is to quit your smoking habit deliberately.
2. Get a Pap Smear
The Pap smear is the most preventive defense for cervical cancer. Before turning into cervical cancer, the Pap smear can detect all the changes in your cervix prior to it. If you see some signs and symptoms of cervical cancer, you should immediately check with a doctor and have Pap smear done.
3. Limitation of sexual partners
Having sex with multiple partners increases the risk of developing HPV infection, which is one of the most prominent cause of cervical cancer. There is a chance of increase in the risk of cervical cancer if a person is involved in sexual intercourse with many partners. It becomes necessary to limit your sexual partners inorder to decrease the risk.
4. Use a condom, if you are sexually active
You should always use a precaution while having sex. Having unprotected sex increases the risk of HIV and other STDs, which inturn would put you at risk for developing cervical cancer.
5. Get the HPV vaccine
HPV vaccine prevents high risk strains of HPV in women, which was approved by the FDA to prescribe to young girls as young as the age of 9 years old. The vaccine is mostly effective if given to young girls before involving in sexual activity.
6. Follow up on abnormal Pap smears
It is important to follow up on regular Pap smears, if you had an abnormal Pap smear. If you had cervical dysplasia which has been treated, it is still necessary to follow up on regualr Pap smears as dysplasia can return anytime and if undetected, it can develop into cervical cancer.
