As we know, HPV is the main culprit of cervical cancer, the leading cause of death among Thai women… So what kind of behaviors increase the risk of cervical cancer? Let’s find out.
If you have these behaviors… you are definitely at risk
- Having sexual intercourse before the age of 18
- Having multiple sexual partners, which increases the risk twice as much compared to those with only one partner, and if having more than 6 partners, the risk rises up to 3 times
- Having sex with high-risk partners, such as partners who have multiple partners or partners with a history of HPV infection
- Having a history of sexually transmitted infections such as herpes or gonorrhea
- Having a history of cancer or abnormal epithelial cells in the vagina or external genital organs
- Having a weakened immune system
- Having the first child before the age of 20 and having multiple children
- Using contraceptive pills for more than 5 years, as studies have found that the risk of cervical cancer increases with the duration of contraceptive pill use
- Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
How to prevent cervical cancer
The best way to prevent cervical cancer is abstinence from sexual intercourse, as 99% of HPV infections are transmitted this way. However, this method is difficult to achieve… For those who are sexually active, there are two ways to prevent HPV infection:
- Getting the cervical cancer vaccine
- Undergoing cervical cancer screening
Many women worry because they tend to think they are fine, trust their partners, believe that condoms provide full protection, or think they are not at risk because they have same-sex partners. It is best to see a doctor for a Pap smear test regularly every 1-3 years to be 100% sure that you are not infected with the harmful virus… Because as long as you are sexually active, anything can happen.
