Cervical cancer is the abnormal growth of tissues near the cervix. Hence, its name is so. Listed and discussed in this article are the warning signs and screenings for cervical cancer. Be aware that cervical cancer is as dangerous as the popular and common breast cancer. Cervical cancer is mostly caused by sexual intercourse. It can be considered as a direct effect of sexually transmitted diseases.
Early cervical cancers are usually asymptomatic. This means that they do not present any symptoms as it takes years for the cancerous cells to grow. Infections and other health problems can also present similar symptoms. So, it is best to check with an obstetrician and gynaecologist to rule out any possible health issues and receive the appropriate treatment as early as possible.
The most common symptom of cervical cancer is bleeding from the vagina at times other than when you are having a period. You may have bleeding:
- Between periods
- After or during sex
- At any time if you are post-menopausal
- Vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell
- Discomfort or pain during sex itself
Screenings like the cervical smear tests should be done annually. This should be noted as the risks of having sexual intercourse. In short, when you start having sexual intercourse, check yourself for these smear tests. What this cervical smear test does is screen for abnormalities of the cervix, often identifying abnormalities caused by the 'HPV' (a virus that causes cervical cancer). There are two types of smear tests. The first being the "glass side"; which is the most common and 'ThinPrep Pap Test'.
Note that post-menopausal women still need to undergo smear tests. However, pap tests are not designed to detect 'HPV' but can identify changes due to the 'HPV' infections. A separate test, the 'HPV' test can be used to test for 'HPV' virus itself.
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