Cervical Cancer and Paps Smear
Cervical cancer is preventable. Yet, it is the second leading cause of death in most countries.
Symptoms will usually be irregular or increased vaginal bleeding or post coital staining. The precise cause of cervical cancer is not known. Women who have multiple sex partners are at increased risk, and the disease is more frequent in young prostitutes. Those who started intercourse at ages 14 or 15 years have higher risk than those who started intercourse over 20 years. Also, women married to men whose previous wives had developed cervical cancer had threefold increase frequency of the disease. The occurrence of diseases such as gonorrhea has also been shown to be associated with the frequency of cervical carcinoma. Alteration to immune function increases the risk of cancer, i.e. HIV infection. Certain viruses, such as papillomavirus, herpesvirus and cytomegalovirus have also been implicated.