Cervical cancer is a leading cause of dead among Thai women. According to data from National and Subnational Population-Based Incidence of Cancer, each year more than 8622 women in Thailand are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and for some it’s too late to receive effective treatment. Early detection and diagnosis can greatly increases the chances for successful treatment and survival.
<p”>5 tips to help prevent cervical cancer
Get regular Pap smears
Screening for cervical cancer are easy, affordable and highly efficient ways to detect abnormal changes. By being screened, abnormal cells on your cervix can be detected and then successfully treated even “before” any symptoms or cancer developed. For some, screening tests detect an early stage cervical cancer, which can be cured.
Here are recommendations for screening tests:
Women age 21 or women who had sexual exposure before 21 of age should start their regular Pap testing.
Women age 25 or older, HPV (Human Papilloma virus) testing alone or with Pap testing are recommended (HPV is proven the main cause of cervical cancer – 99% of cervical cancer caused by HPV).
The recommendations apply to women regardless of their HPV vaccination status.
Any bleeding with intercourse or abnormal vaginal discharge should be evaluated by a gynecologist.
Follow up on abnormal Pap smears
If there is any abnormality or HPV was detected, your doctor will repeat the tests or perform other tests to determine the problem. It is important to follow it through.
Get the HPV vaccine
There are vaccines that can prevent HPV infection and dramatically decrease a person’s risk of developing cervical cancer as well as anal cancers in men. Cervarix, Gardasil,and Gardasil 9 are the available HPV vaccines protecting against several of HPV that causes cervical cancer.
These are the recommendations for HPV vaccination:
The first dose can be given as young as 9 years old
Females through aged 45 who have not previously been vaccinated.
Bisexual and other men who have sex with men; transgender people; and immune compromised persons (including those with HIV infection) who haven’t been adequately vaccinated previously, through age 45.
It’s encouraged that adolescent to be vaccinated before they are exposed to HPV. However, if you’ve already been infected with one or more HPV types, the vaccine can still prevent further or more HPV infection.
Practice safe sex
HPV infection is linked to sexual behavior. Unprotected sex will leave you at risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV and therefore increases risk of developing cervical cancer.
Using condoms every time you have sex is important. But while condoms help to lower the risk of developing HPV-related diseases, including cervical cancer, be aware that HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom, so condoms may not fully protect against HPV. That’s why it’s essential get the HPV vaccine in addition to using condoms.
Being monogamy or having single partner dose reduce of HPV infection.
Avoid having sex at young age
Avoid cigarette smoke
Studies have shown that cigarette smoke increase risks of developing cervical cancer by making it more susceptible to HPV infections, whether they smoke themselves or smoke what others are smoking (second hand smoker). You can dramatically reduce your risk of smoking if you give it up and avoid the cigarette smoke by other smokers.
Cervical cancer is not something to be scared of. It is something to vigilant against. The steps to prevent cervical cancer are simple, so be proactive about your cervical health and get them done today!
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Woman Center
Phyathai 3 International Hospital
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