Contents:
- Medical Video: Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy | Ashley's Story
- Understand how cervical cancer develops in the body
- Is cervical cancer contagious?
- What should be done so as not to contract the HPV virus
- 1. Make safe sex
- 2. Be sure to get the HPV vaccine
- 3. Perform routine medical examinations
Medical Video: Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy | Ashley's Story
Cervical cancer is the cancer that most often attacks women. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer has been the cause of the deaths of more than 270 thousand women in the world. Until now, many thought that infectious cervical cancer was like an infection. Is this correct, or is it just a hoax?
Understand how cervical cancer develops in the body
Cervical cancer occurs when cells in the cervical tissue (cervix) grow uncontrollably. These abnormal changes in cervical cells are generally caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
However, when a new woman is infected with the HPV virus, the virus will not immediately cause cancer. The HPV virus usually takes years to turn into cancer cells. At first, this virus will develop and damage the cells and tissues of the cervix. This condition is usually called the precancerous stageand does not cause any symptoms.
If the damage gets worse, these cells will turn into cancer cells and damage the cervix, causing symptoms of cervical cancer.
Is cervical cancer contagious?
It is not true that cervical cancer is contagious. Most cervical cancers are indeed caused by viruses, namely the Human papillomavirus, aka HPV. But when it has developed in the body, cervical cancer tumors and symptoms cannot be transmitted to other people through any media.
Again, cancer is not a contagious disease. However, pit is the HPV virus that should be watched out for because the virus can spread - especially through unprotected sex.
What should be done so as not to contract the HPV virus
The thing that you should pay attention to is how to be free and not contract HPV. There are various easy ways to protect you from HPV virus infections, namely:
1. Make safe sex
The main pathway for the spread of the HPV virus is through risky sex. So, you should first understand what the principles of safe sex are like. One of them is by making sure to use condoms. Also make sure you and your partner do not have this virus by routinely undergoing venereal disease tests.
2. Be sure to get the HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine has been proven to prevent HPV infection by almost 100 percent. Therefore, it is important for you to get the HPV vaccine to be protected from transmission of this virus. In fact, this vaccine has been recommended for children aged 11 years.
At present there are many health services that provide HPV vaccines. So, don't forget to get it, huh!
3. Perform routine medical examinations
A Pap smear is an examination that must be carried out by women over the age of 21 years other than once every 3 years. This examination is also one of the tools to detect cervical cancer early, so you should do this regularly.
Applying a healthy lifestyle is no less important for making viruses and cancers not attack you, for example, doing regular exercise, maintaining ideal body weight, and leaving bad habits like smoking.
