This blog entry aims to explain more about the symptoms of Cervical Cancer, how it is diagnosed and treated, as well as the link between Cervical Cancer and HPV.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical Cancer is usually caused by a common virus called the Human Papillomavirus, which is often abbreviated to HPV.
HPV is a very common virus with many different strains, most of which are harmless.
The virus is usually spread during sex (including oral and anal sex) and skin-to-skin contact of the genital area and common symptoms include bleeding from the vagina, pelvic pain, pain after sex, and bad smelling discharge.
It usually doesn’t cause any symptoms males.
You can help protect yourself and others from some types of Cancer by having the HPV vaccine, if you are eligible.
What Causes Cervical Cancer?
Cervical Cancer is a Cancer found anywhere in the Cervix, the part of the body in women which connects the Womb and the Vagina. Anyone with a Cervix can develop Cervical Cancer (including trans males).
Almost all cases of Cervical Cancer are caused HPV.
Because it such a common virus, with lots of different strains, most people will get some type of it during their life. Most of these are harmless, but some can cause changes in cells that can sometimes lead to Cancer.
Although it is usually spread during sex, it doesn’t have to be penetrative sex. It can be spread through skin-to-skin contact of the genital area, oral sex and sharing sex toys, as well as vaginal and anal sex.
Because of how it is usually spread, HPV can cause changes to cells which can lead to Cancers in different parts of the body, like the Cervix, Penis, Anus, Vulva, Vagina, and some kinds of Head and Neck Cancers.
As of September 2023, a vaccine against the Cancer-causing strains of HPV is given through one injection for young people under 25.
The vaccine has been offered to girls aged 12 and 13 since 2008 and in this group (who are now in their 20’s), the vaccine has reduced cervical cancer rates by 90%.
From the 2019-20 school year, the vaccine has now been offered to all 12 to 13 year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 11 to 12 year-olds in Scotland. So boys now have access to the vaccine as well as girls. This is an important step toward helping protect more people against Cancers related to HPV, whatever your gender.
Common Cervical Cancer Symptoms
The most common symptom of cervical cancer is unusual bleeding from the vagina. This can include bleeding between periods or bleeding that is unusually heavy.
If you notice bleeding between periods or during/after sex, you should book an appointment at your GP surgery straight away.
Noticing blood doesn’t mean you have Cancer because unusual bleeding can be a sign of lots of different things that are also important to rule out, like infections. The clinicians at your GP surgery will be able to help identify what is happening.
Other symptoms of Cervical Cancer can include pelvic pain, pain during sex and bad-smelling vaginal discharge.
How is Cervical Cancer Diagnosed?
If you spot signs which could be Cervical Cancer, your GP surgery might arrange for you to have a Colposcopy. This is the way that Cervical Cancer is usually diagnosed.
This procedure involves a Specialist looking inside the vagina using a small microscope with a light at the end. A tissue sample might be taken during the Colposcopy so it can be looked at closely for Cancer cells under a microscope.
Screening for Early Cervical Cancer
Because in its early stages Cervical Cancer often doesn’t display any symptoms, anyone with a Cervix should be offered Cervical Screening (sometimes called a ‘smear test’) once they reach the age of 25. You should then be offered this screening every three years to help stop Cervical Cancer developing. To discuss this screening service should make contact with your registered GP.