OPEN TRIBUNE – Cervical cancer is prevented with the HPV vaccine

Cervical cancer, or cervical cancer, is the process of uncontrolled growth of the cells of the cervix in women. The cervix or neck of the uterus is the lowest part of the womb, just above the vagina.

It is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. The highest incidence rates occur in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.

This type of cancer takes a long time to develop – usually more than ten years – so there is a long time to detect, treat and cure it. However, this fact should not be a reason to neglect prevention through medical check-ups and the practice of a healthy sexual lifestyle.

In its early stages, cervical cancer usually has no symptoms or nonspecific symptoms such as irregular or intermittent genital bleeding, bleeding after sexual intercourse, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge.

In its advanced stages, pain in the pelvic area, bleeding or abnormal vaginal discharge may occur, especially after sexual intercourse and pain during these, as well as problems urinating, blood in urine or stool, and swelling in the legs.

Risk factors for the disease are related to exposure to the human papillomavirus (HPV) and consist mainly of the initiation of sexual relations at a very young age, promiscuity and sexual relations with partners who engage in high-risk sexual practices.

Vaccination and routine check-ups (Papanicolau and cytology), as often as the doctor recommends, are an essential part of the fight against this disease. The application of systematic and constant measures manages to reduce the appearance of cancer and its mortality between 70% and 80%.

It is important to highlight that we must vaccinate boys and girls from the age of nine to reduce the incidence of this cancer. In case of any suspicion consult your doctor.

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The author is an obstetrician-gynecologist and president of the Los Arturitos Foundation.

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