Does infection with HPV increase the risk of cervical cancer? What are the correct ways to prevent cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women, ranking first among malignant tumors of female reproductive organs. Vaccines can help prevent HPV virus, thereby preventing cervical cancer to a certain extent. But is the cervical cancer vaccine really effective? Does HPV infection necessarily lead to cervical cancer?

You should be careful about these cervical cancer misconceptions

Myth 1: HPV infection is necessary for cervical cancer

The virus is sexually transmitted, but most infection types are preventable with the latest vaccines. HPV infection significantly reduces a woman's risk of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer usually develops slowly after persistent HPV infection. Early cancer lesions, called atypical hyperplasia, can be treated more effectively if caught at this stage, preventing the development of cervical cancer; pasteurization and HPV screening can detect these precancerous lesions.

Misconception 2: I am still young and don’t need to worry about cervical cancer.

Fact: The average age of cervical cancer patients is 48 years old. But this is not always the case. Some people are diagnosed in their 20s. HPV infection and atypical hyperplasia precancerous lesions are also common in young people.

Myth 3: I don’t have sex, so I don’t need the HPV vaccine

Fact: HPV can be spread between partners through sexual intercourse, as well as through oral and contact transmission. In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration introduced a vaccine called Gardasil that protects against four types of HPV, two of which are commonly associated with cervical cancer and two of which are associated with genital warts. A CDC advisory committee recommended that Gardasil be routinely used for girls aged 11 to 13 years. Experts support vaccinating women before they have sex.

Myth 4: I'm vaccinated against HPVu so I don't need to use a condom during sex

Fact: The HPV-4 vaccine will keep you from getting infected with HPV, but the vaccine will do nothing for other types of STDs. Therefore, condoms are still used.

Myth 5: I don’t need a Pap test

Fact: A woman should get her first Pap test when she turns 21, or 3 years after she starts having sex. There are different recommendations for how often to get a Pap test, so ask your doctor how often you should be screened. You still need regular Pap tests even if you've been vaccinated against HPV. The vaccine targets four types of HPV. Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer, so regular screening is still important.

Myth #6: I’m too old to need a Pap test

Fact: We are seeing an increase in cervical cancer and HIV in older people. Older women may have new sexual partners, which increases their risk of cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases. You may need a hysterectomy even if you have reached menopause or are over 65.

Myth #7: My doctor gave me a gynecological exam, which is the same as a Pap test.

Fact: A pasteurization test collects cells from the cervix and sends them to a lab for measurement. A gynecological exam is a physical examination of the cervix and other appendages by your doctor. Both are important for diagnosing early cervical cancer.

Myth 8: My Pap test is abnormal, which means I must have cancer

Fact: Not necessarily. You may need further testing, perhaps an HPV test, a colposcopy, or a biopsy for cancer cells. An abnormal Pap test may indicate early-stage cancer that can be treated. Conversely, a negative Pap test does not necessarily mean there is no cancer. About 10% of Pap tests are false negatives, meaning the test fails to identify a problem here. If you have problems like bleeding and pain, you should seek further treatment even if your Pap test is normal.

Myth 9: If I am diagnosed with cervical cancer, I will die.

Fact: 92% of cervical cancer survivors survive in the early stages. The chances of survival are lower in advanced stages of cervical cancer. There are fewer survivors in developing countries due to inadequate screening. Routine screening helps in diagnosing cervical cancer in its early and curable stages.

Myth 1: After I finish my cervical cancer treatment, I will live with the fear of the cancer coming back

Fact: If cervical cancer recurs, most likely within 2 years after treatment, follow-up of most patients for 5 years finds the risk of recurrence is quite low.

How to prevent cervical cancer?

1. Maintain a good attitude: It is also important to maintain a good attitude. Long-term worry or depression will interfere with the human neuroendocrine system, leading to hormone imbalance and decreased immunity. Many cancers are related to frequent bad moods.

2. Start from the details of life, such as: pay attention to menstrual hygiene, use qualified menstrual pads, take rest during menstruation, and prohibit swimming during menstruation. Usually control sexual life too frequently, young women should have sex twice a week, prohibit menstruation, abortion, postpartum, and intrauterine surgery should not be too early.

3. Pay attention to nutritional balance: Many women often like to take measures such as losing weight and dieting to maintain a beautiful figure, but they ignore the negative impact of dieting on nutritional imbalance, which can also make gynecological diseases such as cervical erosion difficult to cure. In order to make the cervix have a sound cell barrier, it is necessary to supplement more foods rich in carotene and vitamin C on a daily basis to enhance the ability to resist the invasion of external viruses and bacteria.

4. Maintain hormone balance in the body: Do not abuse breast enhancement health products. These products contain estrogen. The accumulation of estrogen in the body can lead to hormonal disorders and abnormal growth of cervical tissue. Avoid excessive obesity to reduce the estrogen effect of fat cells. Use less contraceptives to maintain hormone balance in the body.

5. Strengthen your physique and improve your ability to resist diseases. Do not take some weight loss pills at will. Many countries report that premature sexual life and sexual dysfunction are direct high-risk factors for cervical cancer. Not paying attention to contraception after marriage may increase the chance of cervicitis, so contraceptive measures need to be taken seriously.

6. Prevent HPV from invading: HPV test can be used to determine whether the cervix is ​​infected with the virus. Tests should be conducted at any time. To prevent cervical damage, one should try to stay away from chemical substances that stimulate the cervix. Teenagers should not have sex too early before marriage, let alone have sex with multiple sexual partners. Sexual life after marriage should also be controlled and should not be too frequent.