Four "red flag" symptoms could be a sign of cervical cancer, an expert has said.
Ahead of Cervical Screening Awareness Week next week (June 19-26), intimate wellbeing brand INTIMINA’s in-house gynaecologist, Dr Susanna Unsworth has shared signs people should be on the lookout for.
More than 3,000 people a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK alone, but 99.8% cases are preventable. It can often be prevented by attending a cervical screening, otherwise known as a smear test.
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The screening identifies abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix, such as the presence of high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer. These changes often do not cause any symptoms, so regular screening (every three to five years) helps spot any warning signs before they have the chance to develop into cancer.
Dr Unsworth told the ECHO people should keep an eye out for the following four symptoms:
A change in your normal vaginal bleeding
This could be bleeding that occurs in between your normal periods, after sex, or new bleeding that occurs after your periods have finished (after menopause).
Changes to your normal vaginal discharge
If you feel your discharge has changed, such as it has become thicker, change in colour, change in smell or appears blood stained, I would encourage you to see you doctor about this.
Painful sex
If you are finding sex is painful, and it is not improving with simple measures such and increasing use of lubrication, I would encourage you to speak to your doctor about it.
Other pain
Pain in the lower back or pelvis should be checked out if it does not resolve quickly (for example two to three weeks), especially if there is no obvious reason for it and it is impacting on your normal daily activities.
While these symptoms do not mean you have cervical cancer, it is important to get them checked out, as they can also be caused by other problems too.
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