1. Women’s Health Issues

Self-Care / Prevention

  1. •HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer and genital lesions that lead to it. It is advised for girls 11 to 12 years of age, but can be given from age 9 to age 26.

  2. •Schedule and have Pap tests and pelvic exams as often as your doctor suggests. Ask your doctor if he or she uses a “Thin Prep Pap Test.” This gives fewer false negative results and fewer unclear readings.

  3. •Use “Safer Sex” to help prevent HPV and other STIs.

  4. •Get tested for HPV, as your doctor advises. Tell your partner(s) to get tested, too.

  5. •Don’t douche. If you do, don’t do this more than once a month.

  6. • Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit!

Cervical Cancer

The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus. Cancer of the cervix can occur at any age. It is found most often in women over the age of 40.



Signs & Symptoms

An abnormal Pap test can be an early sign of cervical cancer. Often, no symptoms are present in the early stages of the disease.


Late Stage Symptoms

  1. •Vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods.

  2. •Vaginal bleeding after intercourse.

  3. •A watery or thick vaginal discharge. This may have an odor.

  4. •Pain in the pelvic area.


Very Late Stage Symptoms

  1. •Anemia.

  2. •Appetite loss. Weight loss.

  3. •Pain in the abdomen.

  4. •Urine and feces leak through the vagina.



Causes

Cells on the surface of the cervix sometimes appear abnormal, but are not cancerous. They are thought to be the first step in a slow series of changes that can lead to cervical cancer many years later.


Risk Factors

  1. •Human papillomavirus (HPV). This is the number one risk factor. There are many types of this virus. Some types put women at greater risk than others. Not all women who are infected with HPV develop cervical cancer. The virus is not present in all women who have it, either.

  2. •Sexual intercourse before age 18.

  3. •Multiple sex partners. The more partners, the greater the risk.

  4. •Having sex partners who:

  5. -Began having sex at a young age.

  6. -Have had many sexual partners.

  7. -Had sex with women who had cervical cancer.

  8. •Smoking.

  9. •Being the daughter of a mother who took a drug known as DES during pregnancy. This drug was used from about 1940 to 1970. It was used mostly to prevent miscarriages.

  10. •A weakened immune system.



Treatment

If found early, the cancer can be cured in most women. Pap tests and pelvic exams help diagnose cervical cancer. (See Health Tests & When to Have Them.)


Treatment depends on what is found. The precancerous form of cervical cancer is called dysplasia. Mild cases of this can be monitored with more frequent Pap tests. Medical treatment can also be given. This includes laser therapy and removing part of the cervix. Surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy are needed for cervical cancer.


If the cancer has not spread and a woman wants to become pregnant in the future, just part of the cervix is removed. If a woman does not want a future pregnancy, a hysterectomy may be chosen.

Are late stage symptoms or very late stage symptoms of cervical cancer listed above present?

Have you not had a Pap test and pelvic exam for 3 or more years?

Questions to Ask