Cervix, Cervical Cancer And Infertility
What is the cervix? How does cancer develop there?
Cervical cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the cervix.
The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a fetus grows). The cervix leads from the uterus to the vagina (birth canal).
Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia (precancer), in which cells that are not normal begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Later, cancer cells start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.
Cervical dysplasia occurs more often in women who are in their 20s and 30s. The Pap smear test is used to detect cancer and changes that may lead to cancer. The chance of death from cervical cancer increases with age. Deaths from cervical cancer occur more often in black women than in white women.
Human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major risk factor for cervical cancer.
Although most women with cervical cancer have the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, not all women with an HPV infection will develop cervical cancer.
HPV infections are spread mainly through sexual contact. Women who become sexually active at a young age and have many sexual partners are at increased risk for HPV infections.
Other risk factors for cervical cancer include:
• Giving birth to many children.
• Smoking cigarettes.
• Using oral contraceptives (“the Pill”).
• Having a weakened immune system.
Pap Smear (test) & HPV DNA
A Pap test is commonly used to screen for cervical cancer.
A Pap test is a procedure to collect cells from the transformation zone & surface of the cervix. A special brush, or a small wooden stick is used to gently scrape cells from the cervix. These cells are viewed under a microscope, in a laboratory, to find out if they are abnormal.
This procedure is also called a Pap smear. A new method of collecting and viewing cells has been developed, in which the cells are placed into a liquid before being placed on a slide. It is known as Liquid Based Cytology and has the advantage of being more reliable and reproducible.
The Pap test is recommended for all women between the ages of 21 and 65 years old, and can be done in a doctor’s office or clinic.
During the Pap test, the doctor will use a plastic or metal instrument, called a speculum, to widen your vagina. This helps the doctor examine the vagina and the cervix, and collect a few cells and mucus from the cervix and the area around it. The cells are then placed on a slide and sent to a laboratory.
The only cancer for which the Pap test screens is cervical cancer. It does not screen for ovarian, uterine, vaginal, or vulvar cancers. So even if you have a Pap test regularly, if you notice any other symptoms or signs that are unusual for you, see a doctor to find out why you’re having them.