14 Risk Factors For Cervical Cancer

Presence of these high risk factors, make a woman more prone to cervical cancer:

#1 - Younger women in reproductive age group

#2 - Women who started coitus early, that is, before 18 years of age

#3 - Women who delivered a baby before 20 years of age

#4 - Many births at short intervals

#5 - More than one sexual partner

#6 - Habit of cigarette smoking

#7 - Alcohol or drug abuse

#8 - Prolonged use of oral contraceptive pills

#9 - Women with sexually transmitted diseases or STD

#10 - Women infected with herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV 2) 

#11 - Women infected with human papilloma virus (HPV)

#12 - HIV positive women

#13 - Use of immunosuppressive drugs after organ transplant

#14 - Coitus with a man whose previous wife died of cervical cancer

Please Note: All sexually active women between 18 to 60 years of age should visit their doctor for regular health check ups and pap test to exclude the cancer of cervix, in every three years.

Also read:

Early Detection Of Cervical Cancer - Identify The Warning Signs

Early Detection Of Cervical Cancer - Identify The Warning Signs

Early diagnosis of cervical cancer is extremely important, as the survival rate reduces with the advancing stage. For this reason, every woman (especially those, who are in the child-bearing age group) should be aware of the early symptoms of cervical cancer. If you have any of the symptoms mentioned here, then visit your doctor immediately for investigations to rule out cancer of cervix.

Early Symptoms or Warning Signs of Cervical Cancer

Though, often the disease remains asymptomatic in the early stages, with silent progression; however, presence of these symptoms may help in early detection:

1. Abnormal bleeding from vagina

Cancer of cervix may manifest itself in the form of disorders of menstruation or abnormal bleeding, like:

• Bleeding after coitus
• Inter-menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding on straining ( e.g. defecation)
• Bleeding after menopause
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Continuous bleeding
• Excessive bleeding

2. Abnormal discharge from vagina

Cervical cancer may also manifest in the form of abnormal discharge from vagina, which is in the form of:

• Excessive white discharge
• Blood stained discharge
• Offensive discharge
• Discharge which does not produce itching

Symptoms mentioned above, warn about the cervical cancer, especially when present in women with high risk factors for cancer of cervix.

Please Note: All sexually active women between 18 to 60 years of age should visit their doctor for regular health check ups and pap test to exclude the cancer of cervix, in every three years.

Also read:


14 Risk Factors For Cervical Cancer