This Valentine’s Day let us focus on another V in every woman’s life – the Vagina. All of us know, good daily care can protect us from any infections generating in this delicate body part. But very few know that this body area has a danger of acquiring one of the worst kinds of cancer!

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control.

How is it caused?

It is mostly by the virus called human papillomavirus HPV. This virus is transmitted during sexual intercourse with a person who has HPV. However, not every kind of HPV is a giver of the cervical cancer!

How does it spread?

HPV infection may go away but if spread, can turn into cancer, i.e., it can cause genital warts.

Symptoms

Abnormal cervical cell changes rarely cause symptoms. But you may have symptoms if those cell changes grow into cervical cancer. Symptoms of cervical cancer may include:

• Bleeding from the vagina that is not normal, such as bleeding between menstrual periods, after sex or after menopause.
• Pain in the lower belly or pelvis.
• Pain during sex.
• Vaginal discharge that isn’t normal.

How to detect: the Medical Test

Women may not know if they have cervical cancer and that’s why it is recommended to have regular tests. The medical test used to detect this type of cancer is called Pap Test. A Pap test can find changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. During a Pap test, the doctor scrapes a small sample of cells from the surface of the cervix to look for cell changes. Have your first Pap test at 21. Pap test should be done once in 3 years.

If a Pap test shows abnormal cell changes, your doctor may do other tests to look for precancerous or cancer cells on your cervix.

Your doctor may also do a Pap test and take a sample of tissue (biopsy) if you have symptoms of cervical cancer, such as bleeding after sex.

Treatment

The treatment for most stages of cervical cancer includes:

• Surgery, such as a hysterectomy and removal of pelvic lymph nodes with or without removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes.
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

Precautions

• If you are age 26 or younger, you can get the HPV vaccine, which protects against two types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer.
• The virus that causes cervical cancer is spread through sexual contact. If you do have sex, practice safer sex, such as using condoms and limiting the number of sex partners you have.

Towards this Valentine-day, we’re coming up with a campaign along with Arena Animation to spread the awareness among Jaipur women. Arena is designing some beautiful graphic greeting cards playing with the word V. We are soon going to share them on our page from where you can download them and send them to your beloved! Let us inform our loved ones about the cervical cancer in the most loving way. Stay with us for updates!