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Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (also called cancer of the cervix) is when abnormal cells in the lining of your cervix grow in an uncontrolled way.

Your cervix is the entrance to your womb (uterus) at the top of your vagina.

Cervical cancer develops slowly over time, usually over many years.

Causes of cervical cancer

The most common cause of cervical cancer is human papilloma virus (HPV). It's spread through any type of sexual contact between a man and a woman. Most people who have been sexually active will have an HPV infection at some point in their lives. Read more about HPV.

There are also some rare kinds of cervical cancer caused by other things, such as melanoma.

Risk factors for cervical cancer

The most important risk factor is having HPV. Other factors include:

• Family history – you could be more likely to get cancer than others due to your genetics.
• Smoking – people who smoker are twice as likely to get cervical cancer than non-smokers.
• Number of sexual partners – having more sexual partners increases your risk of exposure to and contracting HPV.
• Not having regular cervical screening – regular cervical screening detects any changes on your cervix, so they can be treated before they become cancers.

Ways to reduce your risk of getting cervical cancer include:

• Cervical screening. The best way to protect yourself from cervical cancer is by having regular screening. Finding changes in the cells through screening can help stop cervical cancer developing.
• Getting the HPV vaccine, called Gardasil. It protects against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. It also helps to prevent genital warts.
• Having safer sex. You can reduce your risk of contracting HPV by limiting your number of sexual partners. Using condoms will also reduce your risk for HPV transmission, but will not completely eliminate it.
• Not smoking can reduce your chances of getting cervical cancer and is one of the best things you can do for your health.

Symptoms of cervical cancer

The changes that lead to cervical cancer happen slowly. These early changes usually have no symptoms.

If cancer of the cervix does develop, the main symptom is unusual bleeding from your vagina, such as bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex or bleeding after menopause. Other symptoms are unusual vaginal discharge, or pain during sex or in your pelvic region.

These symptoms do not always mean you have cervical cancer, but if you have them, it's important to get them checked out by your doctor.

Diagnosing cervical cancer

Tests to diagnose cervical cancer include:

• cervical screening
• pelvic examination
• colposcopy
• cone biopsy or LLETZ biopsy of the cervix.

Treating cervical cancer

The type of treatment options for cervical cancer depends on the stage of the cancer. Options may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy or a combination of these treatments.

The Cancer Society provides a range of information about cervical cancer, including treatment options and side effects.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Jean Hailes – Cervical cancer

  This page discusses what causes cervical cancer, what increases your risk of getting it, how to prevent it, and how it is treated.

• Patient.info – Cervical cancer

  More information about cervical screening, the causes of cervical cancer, diagnosis, and treatment options.

On the next page: HPV vaccine (Gardasil)

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed September 2021.

Sources

Page reference: 301179

Review key: HICES-20461