The cervix lies on the lower portion of the womb of a woman which opens into the vagina. It can be easily detected through simple Pap test and cervical cancer is the most common type of cancers in women all over the world. In countries where cervical screening is part of routine cervical cancer is less common. HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer and sex workers and women with multiple sex partners are likely to develop this cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment are some of the popular methods of treating this cancer.
Cervical Cancer Causes :
Cervix is made of cells like any other organ in your body. Cells undergo constant change in their routine causing death of older cells and forming new cells. However due to abnormal changes in this process some of the cells of cervix become abnormal and infected causing cervical cancer. Human Papilloma Virus is the major cause of cervical cancer.
There are many strains of this virus but only two of them causes this cancer. Many of them cause genital warts in men and women. It is likely that most of the adults are infected with HPV at some point of their life. But due to strong immunity the infection does not bother your body cells. Having more number of sex partners can cause cervical cancer. Smoking cigarette can increase the risk of getting cancer.
Symptoms :
Cervical cancer does not show any signs or symptoms. In rare cases it can cause symptoms like pain during intercourse, vaginal bleeding while having sex, bleeding between periods and discharge from vagina. For some women it would cause irregular periods. Back pain, anemia and urinary problems are common in some women. In rare cases there would be urine leakage through vaginal opening when fistula develops between the bladder and vagina.