WHAT IS A CERVIX ?
The cervix is one part of your reproductive system. It is the lower part of your womb, also called the uterus. The cervix connects your uterus and vagina. And your vagina leads to the outside of your body and the vulva, which is the skin area where you have pubic hair.These are the other parts of your reproductive system. They are all in your pelvis.
What is Cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix.
Cervical cancer is a serious disease that can be life-threatening. It starts when normal cells on your cervix turn into abnormal precancerous cells (or lesions) and then over a period of time the lesion becomes cancerous. Unlike most cancers, cervical cancer is caused by a virus called HPV. HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus and is spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.
WHAT CAUSES CERVICAL CANCER?
The More Common Mastectomy Procedures Today Are:
- The main cause for cervical cancer is a virus called (HPV) human papilloma virus.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that are extremely common worldwide.
- There are more than 100 types of HPV, of which at least 13 are cancer-causing (also known as high risk type).
- HPV is mainly transmitted through sexual contact and most people are infected with HPV shortly after the onset of sexual activity.
- Cervical cancer is caused by sexually acquired infection with certain types of HPV:
a. Low-risk types can cause warts
b. High-risk types can cause pre cancer and cancer of the cervix - Two HPV types (16 and 18) cause 70% of cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions.
You could be infected without knowing it.
In most cases, HPV doesn’t cause any symptoms and goes away on its own. But if you’re infected with a high-risk type that doesn’t go away, it may lead to cervical cancer over time. You can get it more than once. Even if you have been exposed to HPV, your body doesn’t develop long-term protection against it. That means, you could be infected again. Each time, there’s a risk the virus won’t go away and could lead to cervical cancer.
