Cervical cancer, or cervical cancer, is the result of persistent infection by oncogenic types of the Human Papillomavirus, HPV.
Genital HPV infection is very common and, in most cases, does not cause the disease. In some cases, cellular changes occur that can progress to cancer.
For the year 2023, 17,010 new cases of cervical cancer are estimated in Brazil, which represents a considered risk of 13.25 cases per 100,000 women, according to the National Cancer Institute (Inca).
preventive exam
The main way to discover the presence of HPV is through the papanicolau exam. In almost all cases, there is a cure for HPV infection. Therefore, it is important to periodically carry out routine examinations.
The Pap smear should be done by women or anyone with a cervix, aged 25 to 64 years, who have already had sexual activity. This includes trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth.
The prioritization of this age group as the target population is justified because it is the one with the highest occurrence of high-grade lesions, which can be treated so that they do not evolve into cancer. According to WHO, the incidence of this cancer increases in women between 30 and 39 years of age and reaches its peak in the fifth or sixth decade of life.
The routine recommended for screening for cervical cancer in Brazil is the repetition of the Papanicolaou exam every three years, after two consecutive normal exams performed with an interval of one year.
Other ways to prevent
A American Cancer Society, from the United States, points out four other ways to avoid lesions caused by HPV that can result in cancer. Are they:
1. Take the HPV vaccine;
2. Avoid exposure to HPV;
3. Use a condom and
4. No smoking.
Learn more about it on the portal Health up to datepartner of metropolises.
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