Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide, and can be treated effectively when detected early. It is usually found at a very early stage through a Pap test.
Most cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papillomavirus Virus, or HPV. You can get HPV by through sexual contact with a person who already has it. Now although there are multiple types of the HPV virus, not all of them cause cervical cancer. Other risk factors such as smoking can act to increase the risk of cervical cancer among women with HPV even more.
Women may also notice some of the following signs:
Cervical cancer, infections, or other health problems may be the cause behind these symptoms. A woman with any of these symptoms should tell her doctor so that the problem may be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
There are a few things that women should do in order to reduce the chance of developing cervical cancer.