Cervical cancer may not cause any symptoms or the symptoms may not be obvious.
The most common symptoms of cervical cancer are unusual vaginal bleeding, even after menopause, after sex or between regular periods; changes in vaginal discharge; pain or discomfort during sex; and unexplained pain in the lower back or pelvis.
The main cause of cervical cancer is a virus called high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is very common and usually goes away on its own without causing any problems.
Sometimes, however, there are changes in the cells of the cervix that can develop into cervical cancer. On average, this happens slowly, usually between five and twenty years.
Other risk factors include smoking, a weakened immune system, taking the oral contraceptive pill and a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was given to some pregnant women from 1938 to 1971.
Cervical screening samples are examined for high-risk HPV, and if the virus is found, the sample is re-examined for cell changes (stock image)
Currently, less than one in 100 women in the UK will develop cervical cancer in their lifetime.
Research suggests that someone who has not been vaccinated against HPV and has never had a cervical cancer screening has a lifetime risk of about 2 in 100.
Cervical cancer deaths fell by 75 per cent between 1971/73 and 2017/2019 in the UK, adjusted for the changing age of the population.
Since the early 1990s, the incidence of cervical cancer among women in the UK has fallen by 25 per cent.
The incidence of cervical cancer in the UK is highest in women aged 30 to 34 and mortality is highest in women over 90.
The main cause of cervical cancer is a virus called high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).
About 51 percent of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer survive ten years or longer.
Cervical cancer screening samples are examined for high-risk HPV. If the virus is found, the sample is again examined for cell changes.
If no cell changes occur, the woman will be invited back for a cervical cancer screening within a year to ensure that the HPV has disappeared.
If high-risk HPV and cell changes are detected, women are invited to undergo a colposcopy, which uses a microscope to take a closer look at the cervix.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
