Cervical cancer: Knowing its causes and how to prevent it
Posted by Salsero77 on February 05 2010 05:16:18
Cervical cancer is perhaps one of the most feared diseases of every woman. There are numerous causes that increase the risk for you to get this disease, therefore it is important to know the numerous risks involved in cervical cancer in order to prevent this infirmity to evolve and have serious consequences.
Causes include:
- HPV Virus: Considered the most influential cause of cervical cancer, this viral infection could be in the most of cases a harmless disease because it is effectively contained and defeated by your immune system. But it could develop into a cervical cancer.
Studies suggest it is virtually responsible for all clinical cases for cervical cancer (99%). It is good for you to know the sexual history of your partner as you also prevent HPV by not having sex without condom unless you get to trust your sexual partner.
- Promiscuity: If you have more than one sexual partner your risk of cervical cancer increases as you may get an unexpected HPV. Also it is proven that having sex from an early age increases the risks. The last cause associated to promiscuity is that your partner can expose you as well with his sexual history.
- Smoking: Smoking exponentially increases the risk of having cervical cancer, as it increases the risk of getting any type of cancer.
- Long- term contraceptive pill use: Abusing the use of contraceptive pills may also increase the risk your HPV develops into cervical cancer, that’s why it is better to prevent if possible using this contraceptive method.
- A weak immune system: Also it is proven that in some cases the victims of cervical cancer have been exposed to low levels of their immune response, and it is possibly related to an incoming cervical cancer development as your immune system is unable of defeating the HPV infection. That is why it is important to ensure that you are taking healthy habits to help your immune system maintain its strength. This includes antioxidant-rich food, exercise and quitting addictions.
Although cervical cancer can be associated to these factors, not all women with cervical cancer have certainty of their causes for getting this disease. That is why another way of preventing a cervical cancer is to be level, keep going regularly to your gynecologist for a Papanicolaou test every 6 months and being careful of your cervical health.