Cervical Cancer Prevention: From Vaccination to Safe Sex, How You Can Reduce Risk of This HPV Induced Disease

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that affects the cervix cells of women. As per the statistics, about one woman dies of cervical cancer every eight minutes in India. Cervical cancer can cause long-term health effects and even turn fatal, if timely treatment is not provided.  Ninety-nine percent of cervical cancers are caused by the strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection affecting the body. This sexually transmitted infection is responsible for maximum cases of cervical cancer in women.  When our immune system is unable to prevent the virus from attacking the body, one may develop cervical cancer. There are two types of cervical cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The HPV can survive in your body for years, contributing to the process that causes some cervical cells to become cancer cells.

Here Are Some Ways You Can Reduce the Risk of Developing Cervical Cancer:

Early Screening

You must get yourself screened for cervical cancer from time to time as per your GP's suggestion. Timely screening makes it easier to diagnose cervical cancer and also helps the medics to begin treatment sooner. If you do not have abnormal symptoms, you are advised to get yourself screened at different time spans according to your age. For example, women between the age of 25 to 49 are advised to get themselves screened every 3 years whereas women between the age 50 to 64 are suggested to get themselves screened in every 5 years. You must get yourself screened even if you are vaccinated for cervical cancer.

Drinking and Smoking

People who smoke and drink are more at the risk of HPV infection. Quitting smoking, makes your body get rid of the HPV infection sooner and even prevents it from turning into cancer. If you smoke a lot you might want to join programmes that will help you quit the unhealthy habit. The doctors may also prescribe medical treatment that can help you with withdrawal symptoms.

Vaccination

There exist many types of vaccines for cervical cancer. However, in India, a quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil™) and a bivalent vaccine (Cervarix™) are used. Manufactured by recombinant DNA technology that produces non-infectious VLPs comprising of the HPV L1 protein can be one of the most effective ways of preventing cervical cancer.

Safe Sex

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the main causes behind cervical cancer and  HPV is known to majorly spread through unprotected sex. Make sure to avoid unsafe sex and always use a condom to reduce your risk of developing the infection. Remember, not just by penetrative sex but the virus can be transmitted by any kind of skin-to-skin contact between genitals. It can be spread via oral or anal sex as well.

A Lancet study says that cervical cancer may no longer be a public health problem in India in the next sixty year. If the existing prevention programmes are made more easily accessible, there are chances that we may no longer live under the burden of this disease.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 16, 2019 11:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).