Women should not ignore these symptoms even by mistake, otherwise there may be a risk of cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer: Cervical cancer is increasingly becoming a serious health challenge among women in India. Every year, more than 1.2 lakh new cases are reported in the country, while about 70 to 75 thousand women die from this disease. It is the third most common cancer in women and India accounts for about one-third of the total deaths due to cervical cancer worldwide. Experts say that this disease can be prevented by timely investigation and caution, but due to the absence of initial symptoms, it is often detected late.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer occurs in the lower part of the uterus, i.e. the cervix, which connects the uterus to the vagina. When the cells of the cervix start growing abnormally and the body has no control over them, then cancer occurs. The biggest cause of this disease is considered to be human papillomavirus i.e. HPV infection, although there are many other risk factors besides this.

cause of cervical cancer

According to health experts, HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer, this virus spreads mainly through sexual relations and its role is found in about 80 percent of the cases. There are many types of HPV, but type 16 and type 18 are considered the most dangerous, because they can turn into cancer if they remain in the body for a long time.

When does the danger increase?

However, HPV infection is not a rare problem. Most women become infected with it at some point in their lives and in most cases the body’s immune system eliminates it on its own. The danger increases when this virus persists in the body for a long time and starts damaging the cells.

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

Smoking increases risk

According to doctors, having more sexual partners also increases the risk of cervical cancer. Unprotected sex and frequent partner changes increase the chances of spreading HPV and other sexually transmitted infections. Apart from this, smoking is also a big risk factor, because the chemicals present in cigarettes weaken the immunity and the body is unable to fight the virus.

taking birth control pills

The risk of this cancer has also been seen to be higher in women who have had repeated pregnancies, especially at a young age. At the same time, some research also suggests that taking birth control pills for five years or more may increase the risk slightly. Experts advise women to have regular checkups, HPV vaccination and adopt a safe lifestyle, so that this deadly disease can be prevented in time.