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WOMEN'S HEALTH
Pap smears and preventing cervical cancer Lisa Sousou
J
anuary is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Did you know that cervical cancer used to be the most common cause of cancer death among women in the United States? Deaths in the U.S. from cervical cancer have declined more than 70 percent since the 1950s, after the introduction and widespread adoptionof cervical cancer screening. It is possible to drastically reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by simply keeping up with regular Pap smears.
What is cervical cancer, and what causes it?
The cervix is the tip of the uterus, which protrudes into the back of the vagina. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by an extremely common virus called human papilloma virus, or HPV. Genital, including cervical, infections with this virus are sexually transmitted; almost all sexually active people will be infected with it at some point in their lives. Most people’s bodies do fight off and clear the virus eventually, and in most people, it does not cause any major or persistent problems. In some less common cases, the virus persists long-term, and in a proportion of these cases, it can cause cervical cancer. In men, it is common for HPV infection to have no symptoms. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts in men or women. Other types do not cause warts or anything visible but can still be transmitted to a sexual partner. In women, some types of HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix. These changes are called dysplasia. Over time, as the cells change more and more, dysplasia can progress from mild to moderate and then to severe. Most cases of mild cervical dysplasia, especially in young women, will resolve back to normal eventually. Some cases will progress to moderate and then to severe dysplasia. If severe dysplasia is not treated, it can progress to cervical cancer. This timeframe typically takes years.
January 2021
10th Anniversary Edition
