Cervical Cancer Signs

Unfortunately, cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers that threaten a woman's health. It is extremely serious.

Cervical cancer signs, like the signs of many other forms of cancer, generally don't show up in the early stages of the disease. This is why regular check ups and screenings are important.

Cervical cancer often progresses slowly. Sometimes it takes a period of years. Eventually, however, signs begin to appear.

• Pain in the pelvic area during intercourse.
• Bleeding after intercourse.
• Watery, blood-tinged discharge from the vagina after intercourse. The discharge is likely to have an extremely unpleasant odor.
• Bleeding between periods.
• Bleeding after menopause.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

A sexually transmitted strain of virus plays a role in causing most cervical cancer cases. It is the human papillomavirus, which is also commonly known as HPV.

The virus is fairly widespread and usually causes no harm because the immune system suppresses it successfully. However, in a small percentage of women, the virus eventually begins to convert cells on the cervix into cancer cells.

Signs of cervical cancer rarely appear in women under the age of 30.

Preventing Cervical Cancer

Several years ago a cervical cancer vaccine called Gardasil was developed, and it helps protect women against the most dangerous types of HPV. This virus is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, most often during intercourse.

Gardasil works best when administered to girls around age 11 or 12 who have not yet become sexually active, but is also recommended for women up to age 26. The vaccine is effective against most, but not all, of the viruses that cause cervical cancer,

Therefore it's also smart to schedule routine Pap tests since they've proven to be a reliable way to detect cervical cancer in the very early stages before signs appear. Talk to your doctor about the best schedule for you, keeping in mind that some women are at higher risk than others.

Finally, research through the years has shown that women who have a lot of sexual partners get cervical cancer at a higher rate then those who don't. This is also true of women who smoke.

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