Cervical Cancer Screening: Too Many Are Left Unprotected

The decline in cervical cancer is a success story of cancer research. Although there are reasons to be optimistic about even further decreases in cervical cancer incidence, there still remain some women who are not screened.For related information on cervical cancer screening, visit:

http://www.sciencedaily.com

Cervical screening is most important because you can prevent cervical cancer from developing in the first place. This cancer can be preventable because pre-cancerous call changes can be picked up before they have a chance to go to a full blown cancer. But, many women have not been screened with pap smears and are undetected of the cancer.

Risk factors for cervical cancer:

  • You are more likely to develop cervical cancer if you have multiple sex partners or if you become sexually active at early age. Sexual activity at early age increases the risk because during puberty cervical tissues undergo many changes which make the area more susceptible to damage.
  • Infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) increases your risk from 20 to 100 times. HPV is sexually transmitted disease, quite common in young women.
  • Cigarette smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer.
  • A family history of cervical cancer

Pap smear test for cervical cancer:

The test for cervical cancer is pap smear test or cervical smear test. The sample of cells is collected from the surface of cervix and examined to find any abnormal cell. Women of age 30 or above can now opt for pap smear to increase the odds of detecting abnormal, precancerous cells before they turn into cervical cancer.

As women started opting for pap smears, deaths from cervical cancer dropped dramatically. But, more women should opt for pap smears on regular basis.

No need of pap smears:

Women who don’t need to go for pap tests include: women of age 65 or above who have had regular pap tests with normal tests and women who do not have cervix which means their cervix was removed as part of an operation.

Minimizing the risk of cervical cancer:

  • Have pap smear test regularly or as soon as you become sexually active
  • If there are abnormalities, you have to go for the test for every three years until 69 years
  • Limit your sexual partners to minimize the risk
  • Using female condom lowers the risk of the cervical cancer