The cervix is a hollow cylinder which connects the lower part of a woman’s uterus to the vagina. When the cells on the surface of the cervix become cancerous, it causes cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer causes maximum number of deaths amongst women in India. There were 96,922 cervical cancer cases registered in India, out of which 60,078 deaths were observed in the year 2020.

Symptoms

Cervical cancer is difficult to diagnose at early stages, as there are no early symptoms. When the symptoms appear (later stage), they are easily mistaken for common conditions like UTI (urinary tract infection).
Typically, cervical cancer symptoms are —

1. Unusual bleeding (in between periods, after sex or after menopause)
2. Vaginal discharge which is smelly or appears different from the usual discharge
3. Need to urinate more often
4. Pelvic pain
5. Pain during urination

Causes

1. Majorly cervical cancer is caused by sexually transmitted Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This virus also causes genital warts.
2. There are about 100 different variants of HPV virus but only HPV-16 and HPV-18 are the two strains that cause cancer.
3. Being infected by HPV virus doesn’t mean you will get cervical cancer. The immune system eliminates majority of HPV infections within two years.
4. Another cause of cervical cancer is smoking. Smoking introduces chemicals into your body, which are called carcinogens. Carcinogens can cause damage to the DNA in the cells of your cervix. They can play a role in cancer formation.
5. Your diet can also affect the chances of getting cervical cancer. Women with obesity are more likely to develop certain types of cervical cancer. Women who follow a diet which is low in fruits and vegetables, are also at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
6. Women who take oral contraceptives that contain synthetic versions of the hormones- estrogen and progesterone for five or more years, are at a higher risk for cervical cancer, compared to women who’ve never taken oral contraceptives.
7. Women who’ve had more than three full-term pregnancies or were younger than 17 at the time of their first full-term pregnancy, are at a higher risk for cervical cancer.
8. Having a family history of cervical cancer is also a risk factor. This is especially true if a direct relative such as your mother or sister has had cervical cancer.

Measures to reduce the chances of developing cervical cancer:

1. Practice safe sex – Major reason that causes cervical cancer is sexually transmitted infections. Using a condom during sex helps to protect from several types of infections.
2. Stop smoking – Women who smoke are at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer than women who do not.
3. Having fewer sexual partners – The more sexual partners, the higher are the chances of transmitting viruses like HPV, HIV etc. Hence, it is advisable to limit the number of sexual partners and reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.
4. Vaccine – The HPV vaccine targets the two strains that cause cancer. If every female gets the HPV vaccination done, they can reduce the chances of developing cervical cancer.
5. Cervical screening – Screening often indicates changes of the cells on the cervix. Regular screening may help you treat yourself before the condition worsens.
6. Improve the quality of lifestyle – Include fruits and vegetables in your diet, exercise regularly and keep yourself fit. Avoid consumption of oral contraceptives and do not engage into sexual life too early.

Cervical cancer is fatal as the symptoms do not surface at early stages. However, few safety measures can keep yourself and your loved ones away from cervical cancer. If you wish to know more, or if you wish to try out Staygreen Biodegradable Pads, contact the Staygreen Team.

Buy Staygreen Pads for healthy and happy periods and help yourself as well as the environment.