Best Gynaecologist in Bangalore | Dr. Sunita Pawar
Have you heard of cervical cancer? First, let us tell you that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, and if we talk about India, it is the second most common cancer in women. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cells of the lower part of the cervix of women. Cervical cancer is primarily a sexually transmitted virus caused by chronic infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
Sometimes the human papillomavirus (HPV) also causes genital warts in women and men. HPV can cause infection of the genitals, penis, anus, mouth, or throat during oral sex or intercourse.
Earlier, there was a belief that cervical cancer affects only women above 30 years of age. Still, even younger girls are getting infected with this virus because of their sexual exposure at a young age.
Vaccination can prevent this virus from occurring. Trials have shown that the vaccine is more than 99% effective in preventing cervical cancer when given to girls aged 9-14 years before sexual contact. This blog today lets us do a quick go-through about cervical cancer and its vaccine.
About Cervical Cancer And Its Symptoms
As we told you above, cervical cancer occurs in the cervix cells, the lowest part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted virus transmitted from person to person during oral sex or sexual intercourse.
There are more than 100 types of human papillomavirus, but only a few cause cervical cancer, such as HPV 16 and HPV 18. About 1,50,000 women develop cervical cancer in India, and 70,000 die yearly.
Talking about some of the main symptoms of cervical cancer, women suffering from it complain of abnormal or irregular bleeding during sexual intercourse. Patients with cervical cancer may also experience pelvic urine, vaginal discharge, or foul-smelling blood stains.
This virus usually only infects sexually active women. However, if it is not taken care of in time, it can cause a lesion on the cervix, which can become cancer.
Importance Of cervical cancer vaccine
- India’s awareness of cervical cancer is very low, especially in rural areas. Women often do not openly discuss issues like sex or their symptoms due to shyness. Due to lack of attention, this virus later becomes cancer.
- The cervical cancer vaccine is available at affordable rates, but due to a lack of information, the patient dies from it. However, one thing to note here is that these vaccines can only work to prevent HPV infection, not to treat HPV infection that is already present on the cervix. That’s why every woman must get the cervical cancer vaccine before sexual activity to minimize the risk of cervical cancer.
- Girls between the ages of 12 and 13 should get the HPV vaccination, and each girl will need three doses of the vaccine, which they can take within a year.
Other options for the prevention of cervical cancer:-
Other options for cervical cancer prevention include more regular Papanicolaou (PAP) tests. It can be treated if it shows a precancerous stage in the investigation. That’s why every woman must get a test done every three years.