\n Cervical Cancer is preventable, if screening and timely intervention is done. Screening for cervical\ncancer is done not only to detect early lesions in cervical cancer or the pre-cancerous lesions but also\nto identify the presence of high risk HPV virus and its DNA in the cervical smears. Screening plays a\ncrucial role in identification of at risk patients and thus helps to bring down the incidence of Cervical\ncancer.<\/p>\n
Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer<\/h2>![](\"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/side-view.jpg\")
\n \n - HPV infection (Human Papilloma Virus)<\/li>\n
- Early sexual activity<\/li>\n
- Multiple sexual partners<\/li>\n
- Cigarette smoking<\/li>\n
- Multiple pregnancies<\/li>\n
- Early age at first pregnancy<\/li>\n
- Immuno-deficient status<\/li>\n
- Low socio-economic status<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
What does Cervical Cancer mean?<\/h2>\n
Cervical Cancer involves the development of cancer\/ abnormal growth of cells in the cervix. Cervix\n is the part of uterus which connect it to the vagina. The symptoms of early cervical cancer are\n abnormal vaginal bleeding i.e. post coital-bleeding, post-menopausal bleed, unusual bleeding\n between periods, discharge per vagina \u2013 could be foul smelling watery, persistent pelvic pain. The\n symptoms of advanced cervical cancer include lower limb swelling, pain abdomen, painful bowel\n movements, painful urination and chronic exhaustion.<\/p>\n
How does Cervical Cancer Screening help<\/h2>\n
All cancers develop from into invasive cancer from a dysplastic cell. In case of cervical cancer, the\n time taken for dysplastic cells to turn into invasive cancer is roughly 3-7 years. This time period\n allows us to detect dysplastic cells before the cancer has actually developed.\n\n Secondly, around 90% of Cervical Cancer is linked to HPV infection in the genital tract which means\n that 90 out of 100 women develop cervical cancer because they have been infected with HPV virus.\n Detection of HPV infection early on helps to eliminate this infection thus reduce the subsequent risk\n of developing cancer.<\/p>\n
Thus the screening modalities used not only screen for the presence of abnormal\/dysplastic cells but\n also the presence of HPV infection in the genital tract.<\/p>\n
Who should get screened for Cervical Cancer?<\/h2>\n
Screening for Cervical cancer starts at the age of 21 years and for women between 21-29 years\n every 3 yearly pap\u2019s smear should be done. Between 30 and 65 years, cervical cancer screening can\n be done using one of these methods<\/p>\n
\n - HPV testing every 5 years<\/li>\n
- HPV\/Pap cotest every 5 years<\/li>\n
- Pap\u2019s smear every 3 years<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
After 65 years of age Cervical Cancer Screening is not required, unless the last test was abnormal.<\/p>\n
Exception to Cervical Cancer screening<\/h2>\n \n - Post Hysterectomy status<\/li>\n
- HIV positive patients \u2013 might need more frequent screening<\/li>\n
- Those who are pap\u2019s positive or diagnosed case of cervical cancer, screening has no value.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
How to get screened for Cervical Cancer?<\/h2>![](\"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/high-angle.jpg\")
\n
You need to visit a Surgical Oncologist\/ Gyane-oncologist for a pelvic examination and Pap\u2019s\n smear. The test is done in the OPD procedure room and is a simple painless technique. After a\n complete pelvic examination, a speculum is introduced through the vagina and the cervix is\n examined. The smear from cervical canal is taken and the same sample goes for HPV DNA as well.<\/p>\n
The reports are usually available within 48 hours.<\/p>\n
How to understand the results of Cervical Cancer Screening?<\/h2>\n
HPV DNA<\/b><\/p>\n \n - Negative \u2013 Next test is due after 5 years<\/li>\n
- Positive- More tests are needed<\/li>\n\n <\/ul>\n
Pap\u2019s smear<\/b><\/p>\n \n - Normal \u2013 Also called as a negative test<\/li>\n
- Unsatisfactory \u2013 The test did not yield the satisfactory cells in smear to conclusively tell\n normal or abnormal<\/li>\n
- Abnormal- Suspicious or cancerous cells seen in the smear. This would need further testing\n and management based on the results.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
What to do if the test gives a positive result?<\/h2>\n
All abnormal, unsatisfactory Pap\u2019s smear and Positive HPV tests should meet their Oncologist to\n discuss the further lines of follow-up\/management. It is important to realize that the importance of\n these test is to detect early disease and hence any delay in further tests or management should be\n avoided.<\/p>\n
Prevention<\/h2>\n
Cervarix-TM (HPV4) and Gardasil-TM (HPV-2) are safe, and effective for girls aged 9 through 26\n years. IAP ACVIP recommends that all girls who are 11 or 12 years old get the 2 doses of HPV\n vaccine to protect against cervical cancer. Girls and young women ages 14 years or older should get\n 3 doses of an HPV vaccine if they have not received all doses yet.<\/p>\n
People who have already had sexual contact before getting all 2\/3 doses of an HPV vaccine might still\n benefit if they were not infected before vaccination with the HPV types included in the vaccine they\n received. The best way to be sure that a person gets the most benefit from HPV vaccination is to\n complete full series before sexual activity begins.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cervical Cancer is preventable, if screening and timely intervention is done. Screening for cervical cancer is done not only to detect early lesions in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":261,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[124],"tags":[121,128],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":270,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260\/revisions\/270"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
What does Cervical Cancer mean?<\/h2>\n
Cervical Cancer involves the development of cancer\/ abnormal growth of cells in the cervix. Cervix\n is the part of uterus which connect it to the vagina. The symptoms of early cervical cancer are\n abnormal vaginal bleeding i.e. post coital-bleeding, post-menopausal bleed, unusual bleeding\n between periods, discharge per vagina \u2013 could be foul smelling watery, persistent pelvic pain. The\n symptoms of advanced cervical cancer include lower limb swelling, pain abdomen, painful bowel\n movements, painful urination and chronic exhaustion.<\/p>\n
How does Cervical Cancer Screening help<\/h2>\n
All cancers develop from into invasive cancer from a dysplastic cell. In case of cervical cancer, the\n time taken for dysplastic cells to turn into invasive cancer is roughly 3-7 years. This time period\n allows us to detect dysplastic cells before the cancer has actually developed.\n\n Secondly, around 90% of Cervical Cancer is linked to HPV infection in the genital tract which means\n that 90 out of 100 women develop cervical cancer because they have been infected with HPV virus.\n Detection of HPV infection early on helps to eliminate this infection thus reduce the subsequent risk\n of developing cancer.<\/p>\n
Thus the screening modalities used not only screen for the presence of abnormal\/dysplastic cells but\n also the presence of HPV infection in the genital tract.<\/p>\n
Who should get screened for Cervical Cancer?<\/h2>\n
Screening for Cervical cancer starts at the age of 21 years and for women between 21-29 years\n every 3 yearly pap\u2019s smear should be done. Between 30 and 65 years, cervical cancer screening can\n be done using one of these methods<\/p>\n
- \n
- HPV testing every 5 years<\/li>\n
- HPV\/Pap cotest every 5 years<\/li>\n
- Pap\u2019s smear every 3 years<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
After 65 years of age Cervical Cancer Screening is not required, unless the last test was abnormal.<\/p>\n
Exception to Cervical Cancer screening<\/h2>\n
- \n
- Post Hysterectomy status<\/li>\n
- HIV positive patients \u2013 might need more frequent screening<\/li>\n
- Those who are pap\u2019s positive or diagnosed case of cervical cancer, screening has no value.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
How to get screened for Cervical Cancer?<\/h2>
\n You need to visit a Surgical Oncologist\/ Gyane-oncologist for a pelvic examination and Pap\u2019s\n smear. The test is done in the OPD procedure room and is a simple painless technique. After a\n complete pelvic examination, a speculum is introduced through the vagina and the cervix is\n examined. The smear from cervical canal is taken and the same sample goes for HPV DNA as well.<\/p>\n
The reports are usually available within 48 hours.<\/p>\n
How to understand the results of Cervical Cancer Screening?<\/h2>\n
HPV DNA<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- Negative \u2013 Next test is due after 5 years<\/li>\n
- Positive- More tests are needed<\/li>\n\n <\/ul>\n
Pap\u2019s smear<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- Normal \u2013 Also called as a negative test<\/li>\n
- Unsatisfactory \u2013 The test did not yield the satisfactory cells in smear to conclusively tell\n normal or abnormal<\/li>\n
- Abnormal- Suspicious or cancerous cells seen in the smear. This would need further testing\n and management based on the results.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n
What to do if the test gives a positive result?<\/h2>\n
All abnormal, unsatisfactory Pap\u2019s smear and Positive HPV tests should meet their Oncologist to\n discuss the further lines of follow-up\/management. It is important to realize that the importance of\n these test is to detect early disease and hence any delay in further tests or management should be\n avoided.<\/p>\n
Prevention<\/h2>\n
Cervarix-TM (HPV4) and Gardasil-TM (HPV-2) are safe, and effective for girls aged 9 through 26\n years. IAP ACVIP recommends that all girls who are 11 or 12 years old get the 2 doses of HPV\n vaccine to protect against cervical cancer. Girls and young women ages 14 years or older should get\n 3 doses of an HPV vaccine if they have not received all doses yet.<\/p>\n
People who have already had sexual contact before getting all 2\/3 doses of an HPV vaccine might still\n benefit if they were not infected before vaccination with the HPV types included in the vaccine they\n received. The best way to be sure that a person gets the most benefit from HPV vaccination is to\n complete full series before sexual activity begins.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cervical Cancer is preventable, if screening and timely intervention is done. Screening for cervical cancer is done not only to detect early lesions in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":261,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[124],"tags":[121,128],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":270,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260\/revisions\/270"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itishachaudhary.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}