The Top Warning Signs And Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

High-Risk HPV Or Genital Warts

If a woman has been diagnosed with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), she has a significantly higher risk of developing cervical cancer compared to healthy individuals who do not have HPV. This virus can cause genital warts or unexplained rashes near the groin, and once this virus is detected, it can lay dormant in the body with no symptoms at all for an extended period. It is important for a woman to visit her doctor regularly for pap smears to monitor the virus and ensure it does not develop into cancer. If any abnormal cells are detected, her doctor may need to perform a biopsy for an accurate diagnosis or to rule out cancer altogether.

Continue reading to find out what causes cervical cancer in women and how it is detected.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is caused by severe abnormal changes in the cells lining the cervix or the lower part of a woman's uterus. In most cases, precancerous or cancerous cell changes occur in the cervix at the transformation zone, as these cells are constantly changing. During this process, some cervical cells can become abnormal if a woman is infected with high-risk types of HPV. Regular pap smears performed by a physician is the easiest and best way to detect if any abnormal cells are present in the cervix and if these cells are cancerous.

Those at risk of developing cervical cancer include a female who engages in high-risk sexual behaviors, having an impaired immune system, and some autoimmune diseases such as HIV, as well as smoking cigarettes or breathing in secondhand smoke. As previously mentioned, a woman with a high-risk type of HPV can also be at risk, as HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and is the most common cause of cervical cancer.

Next, learn how women, regardless if they are at risk or not, can prevent cervical cancer from developing.