Infections or other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A woman with any of these symptoms should tell her doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Detection and diagnosis
Doctors recommend that women help reduce their risk of cervical cancer by
having regular Pap tests. A Pap test (sometimes called Pap smear or cervical
smear) is a simple test used to look at cervical cells. Pap tests can find
cervical cancer or abnormal cells that can lead to cervical cancer.
Finding and treating abnormal cells can prevent most cervical cancer. Also,
the Pap test can help find cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be
effective.
For most women, the Pap test is not painful. It's done in a doctor's office
or clinic during a pelvic exam. The doctor or nurse scrapes a sample of cells
from the cervix. A lab checks the cells under a microscope for cell changes.
Most often, abnormal cells found by a Pap test are not cancerous. The same
sample of cells may be tested for HPV infection.
If you have abnormal Pap or HPV test results, your doctor will suggest other
tests to make a diagnosis:
Colposcopy: The doctor uses a colposcope to look at the cervix. The
colposcope combines a bright light with a magnifying lens to make tissue easier
to see. It is not inserted into the vagina. A colposcopy is usually done in the
doctor's office or clinic.
Biopsy: Most women have tissue removed in the doctor's office with local
anesthesia. A pathologist checks the tissue under a microscope for abnormal
cells.
Punch biopsy: The doctor uses a sharp tool to pinch off small samples of
cervical tissue.
LEEP: The doctor uses an electric wire loop to slice off a
thin, round piece of cervical tissue.
Endocervical curettage: The doctor uses a
curette (a small, spoon-shaped instrument) to scrape a small sample of tissue
from the cervix. Some doctors may use a thin, soft brush instead of a curette.
Conization: The doctor removes a cone-shaped sample of tissue. A conization, or
cone biopsy, lets the pathologist see if abnormal cells are in the tissue
beneath the surface of the cervix. The doctor may do this test in the hospital
under general anesthesia.
Removing tissue from the cervix may cause some
bleeding or other discharge. The area usually heals quickly. Some women also
feel some pain similar to menstrual cramps. Your doctor can suggest medicine
that will help relieve your pain.
You may want to ask the doctor these questions before having a biopsy:
Which biopsy method do you recommend?
How will tissue be removed?
Will I have to go to the hospital?
How long will it take? Will I be awake? Will it hurt?
Are there any risks? What are the chances of infection or bleeding after the
test?
For how many days afterward should I avoid using tampons, douching, or having
sex?
Can the test affect my ability to get pregnant and have children?
How soon will I know the results? Who will explain them to me?
If I do have cancer, who will talk to me about the next steps? When?
Cervical Cancer - Risk Factors at Time of DiagnosisQuestion: Did you have any of the risk factors for cervical cancer at the time of your diagnosis? If so, what were they?
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs,
are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure,
including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual
devices, such as vibrators. Women can contract all of the STDs, but may have no symptoms, or have different symptoms than men do.
Cysts are saclike structures that can occur throughout the body and usually contain a semisolid, liquid, or gaseous substance. Infections, tumors, genetic conditions, chronic inflammatory conditions, and wear and tear can cause cysts. Though some cysts may be palpable, others may not produce any symptoms. Treatment depends upon the location and cause of the cyst.
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
Normal vaginal bleeding (menorrhea) occurs through the process of menstruation. Abnormal vaginal bleeding in women who are ovulating regularly most commonly involves excessive, frequent, irregular, or decreased bleeding. Causes of abnormal may arise from a variety of conditions.
Cervical dysplasia is a condition in which the cells of the inner lining of the cervix have precancerous changes. There are two types of cervical dysplasia; 1) squamous intraepithelial lesion, and 2) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Cervical dysplasia is caused by infection of the cervix with HPV (human papillomavirus). There are various diagnostic measures for cervical dysplasia. Treatment generally depends upon the progression of the dysplasia, mild, moderate, or severe.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. HPV is primarily transmitted by sexual contact. While some people develop warts in the genital region after infection, others experience no symptoms. Though genital warts can be removed, there is no cure for HPV infection. There is a vaccine to prevent infection from four common HPV types.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Hydronephrosis is a condition in which the kidney swells, due to a backup of urine. Hydronephrosis generally occurs with another disease.Symptoms of hydronephrosis include nausea, vomiting, urinary tract infection, fever, painful urination, increased urinary frequency and urgency, flank pain, and swelling of the abdomen. Treatment of hydronephrosis depends on the cause.
Vaginal cancer is fairly uncommon. There are two types of vaginal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Risk factors include being 60 or older, exposure to DES while in the womb, HPV infection, and having a history of abnormal cervical cells. Painful intercourse, pelvic pain, vaginal lumps, and abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge are all symptoms of vaginal cancer. Treatment depends upon the stage of the vaginal cancer and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and the use of radiosensitizers.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
There are a number of different methods of birth control to include: barrier methods, IUDs, hormonal methods, natural methods, and surgical sterilization. Birth control methods can be reversible or permanent. In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
Disease prevention in women includes screening tests that are a basic part of prevention medicine. All screening tests
are commonly available through your general doctor. Some specialized tests may be available elsewhere.
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