What should you pay attention to when checking for cervical cancer? What are the methods to prevent cervical cancer?

There is only one word difference between cervicitis and cervical cancer. Many patients with cervicitis have consulted experts online through Xiaobian with such questions: Will cervicitis develop into cervical cancer? The occurrence of cervical cancer is related to persistent infection with a specific virus - human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection causes changes in the cervical epithelium, which is medically called precancerous lesions. If not treated, it may develop into cervical cancer. This process takes an average of 8-10 years. Cervicitis caused by HPV infection, such as chlamydia and gonococcus, will not develop into cervical cancer. People who have premature sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, multiple miscarriages or childbirth histories, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. are more likely to be infected with HPV. It is recommended to perform regular cervical cancer screening, including: TCT (liquid-based thin layer cell test), high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV-DNA) test (HPV test for short), colposcopy, etc.

At present, cervical cancer can be effectively prevented by vaccination. Since the cervical cancer vaccine has not yet been launched in the mainland, many female friends go to Hong Kong, Macau and other places to get vaccinated. Some netizens also shared their vaccination process in Macau. Some female friends believe that cervical cancer vaccination can prevent cervical cancer 100%. In fact, the cervical cancer vaccine mainly targets the two most common vaccine HPV viruses: HPV16 and HPV18. The protection of other types of cervical cancer caused by HPV virus infection is very weak. After vaccination, the chance of cervical cancer can only be reduced, and the prevention rate of cervical cancer cannot be 100%. People at high risk of cervical cancer are best to do TCT once a year. If you choose to check and find traces of cervical cancer as soon as possible, both TCT and HPV examinations are done, and the test results are normal, you can check once every three years.

Four truths about cervical cancer

Truth 1: Male partners are also important in preventing cervical cancer

Without sex, most cervical cancers in the world would not occur. This is because one of the ways that human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer is transmitted is through sexual contact. Male partners with unhygienic sexual organs or sexual promiscuity will not only transmit the virus to their female partners, but also make their female partners targets of cervical cancer. In medicine, such men are called "high-risk husbands."

The most effective way to prevent HPV infection is to maintain a monogamous relationship, use condoms consistently, and avoid any genital contact with men you don't know.

The results also show that male smegma is the main cause of unclean sexual intercourse, which can easily cause gynecological inflammation and is also an important cause of cervical cancer.

Truth 2: The cervix should be checked regularly during sexual intercourse

As a woman, as long as you start having sex, no matter what age you are, you may be infected with HPV. Adult women should have a comprehensive gynecological examination every year, the most important of which is cervical TCT and HPV test. Don't think that being young is okay. Clinically, cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer and is more likely to occur in young and middle-aged women. Among them, women with multiple sexual partners and those who start sexual life too early are at higher risk.

Fact 3: Sexual intercourse is not the only way to get infected

According to clinical observation, although pregnant women have less sex, they are more likely to be infected with HPV, which is mainly related to the decline of body immunity. In fact, being infected with HPV does not mean that you or your sexual partner must have unclean sex. It has been confirmed that HPV virus exists in oral mucosa, skin and other parts, so the possibility of infection from other aspects cannot be ruled out. In addition, the cause of 1% of cervical cancer is still unknown.

Truth 4: The disease develops slowly and is most easily cured in the early stages

Early cervical cancer may not cause any discomfort, so cervical cancer screening must not be ignored to prevent it. Cervical cancer is the only solid tumor with a clear cause among all cancers. Moreover, cervical cancer progresses slowly, and it takes 10 years for quantitative changes to cause qualitative changes. Experts point out that the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the higher the cure rate. If it can be detected early, the cure rate of cervical cancer can reach almost 100%.

There are five suggestions for preventing cervical cancer

(1) Advocate for late marriage, fewer births, and better quality of births. Delaying the age of sexual intercourse and reducing the number of births can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.

(2) Actively prevent and treat cervical erosion and chronic cervicitis. During delivery, pay attention to avoid cervical lacerations and repair them in time.

(3) Pay attention to sexual and menstrual hygiene. Properly control sexual life. Sexual intercourse is not suitable during menstruation and the postpartum period. Pay attention to the cleanliness of both parties' reproductive organs. It is best to wear a condom during sexual intercourse and reduce or eliminate multiple sexual partners.

(4) If a man has phimosis or foreskin that is too long, he should pay attention to local cleaning. It is best to have a circumcision. This can not only reduce the risk of cervical cancer in his wife, but also prevent his own penile cancer.

(5) For high-risk groups for cervical cancer, including women who have sex too early, too often, give birth too early, too often, too frequently, women who have promiscuous sex, promiscuous sex, multiple sexual partners, women with unclean sexual history, women with poor hygiene conditions, women with insufficient sexual health knowledge, women with cervical erosion, tear, chronic inflammation, vaginal infection, and women whose spouses have long foreskin or phimosis, special attention should be paid to regular screening. If possible, cervical cancer embolism can be tried for preventive treatment.