Cervical cancer ranks high on the list of common cancers that plague women worldwide; it comes second after breast cancer in prevalence. More than 300,000 women die of cervical cancer every year, worldwide, while in the United States alone, 13,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year, with about 4,000 deaths.

The culprit in most cases of cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted virus known as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It is reported that not all cases of HPV infections lead to cervical cancer, however what is clear is that the virus is capable of inducing abnormal changes in the cervical cells. Some of these abnormal changes in the cells result in what is medically known as ‘high grade lesions’, which, sometimes may progress into cervical cancer.

It is important to point out that the body’s immune system is usually capable of suppressing the viral activity of HPV, thus cervical cancer only results in women whose immune system could not sufficiently control the virus.

Pap smears are the only established method for cervical cancer screening. Presently, Pap smear is a routine test for women in most developed countries and this has really helped to reduce the number of deaths that are recorded due to cervical cancer.

Though there are no clear cut symptoms of cervical cancer, as it often progress without warning, the presence of the following symptoms or signs might be an indication of the presence of cervical cancer; vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse or pain during intercourse, unusual vaginal discharge, unusual bleeding between menstrual periods or abnormally heavy bleeding during menstrual periods, increased urine frequency or pelvic pain.

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