Table of contents:
- Recognizing pre-cancer as an effort to prevent cervical cancer
- How to prevent cervical cancer
- 1. Routinely undergo a pap smear examination
- 2. Get an HPV DNA test
- 3. Get the HPV vaccination
- 4. Avoid smoking
- 5. Always practice safe sex
- 6. Keep your vagina clean
Cervical cancer is one of the deadliest diseases for women. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women. That is why, prevention of cervical cancer needs to be known by every woman. How to prevent cervical cancer? Check out the following reviews.
Recognizing pre-cancer as an effort to prevent cervical cancer
Even though it is a deadly type for women, cervical cancer is the only cancer that can be prevented. With the right steps, cervical cancer can be prevented.
Cervical cancer is usually caused by infection with the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) which is not only transmitted through sexual contact, but also through skin-to-skin contact (skin to skin contact).
Before developing into cancer, this disease will go through a stage called the pre-cancer stage. At this time, the cervix or cervix is not yet attacked by cancer cells, but the surrounding tissue begins to grow abnormally.
It takes about 10 years or more for this stage to develop into deadly cervical cancer. If you are still in the pre-cancer stage, the chances of recovery will be much greater and you don't have to imagine painful cervical cancer treatment.
That is why, recognizing this pre-cancer stage is the first door to cervical cancer prevention.
How to prevent cervical cancer
There are many ways you can do as steps to prevent cervical cancer. These efforts can range from undergoing medical tests to lifestyle changes.
Here are various ways to prevent cervical cancer that you need to know.
1. Routinely undergo a pap smear examination
Pap smear is one of the best ways as the first line of defense to prevent cervical cancer. This method serves to detect cells in the cervix that have the potential to become cancerous later.
Yes, the pap smear is a method for early detection of cervical cancer. In addition to the pap smear, you can also take an IVA examination to detect cervical cancer.
Through these cervical cancer prevention measures, doctors can find cells that are abnormal (pre-cancerous) in the cervix. That way, you can handle it before these cells turn into cancer.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), you are advised to have a pap smear as a way to prevent cervical cancer for the first time at the age of 21. You can do this test whether you have had sex or not.
Even though you are more than 21 years old, it is not too late to immediately do this examination as one of your ways to prevent cervical cancer.
You are advised to do regular pap smear examinations every three years (without being accompanied by an HPV test), for those of you aged 21-30 years.
For those who are more than 30 years old, it is recommended that cervical cancer prevention steps be done with a pap smear test in conjunction with an HPV test every five years.
Perform regular pap smear checks to prevent and reduce the risks that can cause cervical cancer. Don't forget, consult your doctor first before you decide to do this examination.
2. Get an HPV DNA test
Another way that you can do as a form of prevention against cervical cancer is the HPV DNA test. This test is done to find out the presence of the HPV virus in the DNA of your cervix.
This test is also an effective way to prevent cervical cancer and can be done in conjunction with a pap smear.
Generally, the HPV DNA test is performed under 2 conditions:
- Along with the pap smear
As a prevention against cervical cancer, this method is usually intended for women aged 30 years and over. If under 30, this method is less effective as a way to avoid cervical cancer.
The reason is, women in their 20s who are sexually active are more likely to get HPV infection which will disappear on its own.
- After the pap smear
In certain conditions, for example, if the pap smear test shows abnormal results, the doctor will recommend an HPV DNA test as an advanced way to prevent cervical cancer.
To do this, there is no need to wait for symptoms of cervical cancer. The reason is, sometimes there are no certain symptoms that appear when you have cervical cancer. Symptoms often appear only when cervical cancer is at a severe stage, so that complications from cervical cancer have occurred.
3. Get the HPV vaccination
Another way that is no less important as an effort to prevent cervical cancer is to do the HPV vaccination. Both women and men aged 9-26 years are recommended to get the HPV vaccine. That is, preventing cervical cancer can be done from an early age.
Basically, the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer prevention is the most ideal given to those who are not sexually active. However, all adults who are sexually active and have never received a cervical cancer prevention vaccine are advised to get vaccinated immediately.
Women who are sexually active should have a pap smear before getting the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer prevention.
If the results are normal, you can immediately get the HPV vaccine. However, if the pap smear examination is abnormal, the doctor will carry out further tests to make a further diagnosis.
Although prevention efforts with the HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of cervical cancer, it still does not guarantee that you are fully protected from this disease.
4. Avoid smoking
You can prevent cervical cancer by not smoking. This is one way to keep and prevent you from the risk of cervical cancer. Of course it's easier to do prevention than undergoing cervical cancer treatment, right?
People who continue to smoke will find it difficult to heal themselves from HPV virus infection. Why is that? This is because cigarette toxins are oxidative in nature so that they can lower the immune system when fighting HPV virus infection.
By avoiding this activity, you have made one of the efforts to prevent cervical cancer while at the same time having a healthy lifestyle.
5. Always practice safe sex
Transmission of the HPV virus can be transmitted through unsafe sex, for example, not using a condom. The problem is, the HPV virus can not only be transmitted through penetration alone.
This virus can also be spread through various other sexual contacts, such as skin in the genital area that is touching each other, oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, or having sex using tools or tools. sex toys.
The risk of contracting HPV also increases if you frequently have multiple sexual partners. Even so, it does not rule out that a woman who only has one partner can be infected with this virus if her partner has many other sexual partners.
In fact, the use of IUD KB is believed to be one of the efforts to prevent cervical cancer. However, the use of spiral contraceptives is considered not to affect the risk of HPV infection. It's just that, the IUD helps in fighting these infections so they don't develop into cervical cancer.
6. Keep your vagina clean
Not only do you have safe sex, the steps to prevent cervical cancer that you can do is always keep your vagina clean. This method is important to do, especially during menstruation and vaginal discharge to prevent cervical cancer.
To make efforts to prevent cervical cancer, you can use the help of a special antiseptic solution for women. Usually, this product contains povidone iodine which you can use to keep the female area clean, including the vagina.
By making various efforts to prevent cervical cancer mentioned above, your risk of contracting it will also be lower. That way, you can avoid this one disease.
