One symptom of cervical cancer is abnormal vaginal discharge. In general, vaginal discharge can occur when a person is exhausted or experiences hormonal changes. However, if you often experience abnormal vaginal discharge, you need to be aware of it as one of the symptoms of cervical cancer.
Leucorrhoea is mucus or fluid that flows through the vagina. Leucorrhoea is divided into two, namely normal and abnormal. Physiologically, vaginal discharge aims to help keep vaginal tissue healthy, provide lubrication, and protect the female area and infection or irritation.
Cervical cancer is a very frightening disease in women. Even cervical cancer can cause death in women. Causes of cervical cancer are viral infections of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that attacks the cervix. The spread of the virus can be through women changing partners.
Cervical cancer has no symptoms at all even just known when it has entered an advanced stage and causes complaints to infected women. One of them is the emergence of vaginal discharge. Leucorrhoea can be a sign of cervical cancer in women at the beginning of the stage.
Vaginal discharge which is considered as a normal thing in women, namely vaginal discharge which is clear and does not experience odor while in patients with cervical cancer, the amount of leucorrhoea is large, causing a yellowish-to-grayish color. Women who experience vaginal discharge as a sign of cervical cancer will smell like a rancid smell and fishy smell which then causes itching in the female area. Leucorrhoea is increasingly dangerous, it will cause blood spots.
Most causes of abnormal vaginal discharge are fungal infections, bacterial vaginosis, or menopausal symptoms. This is relatively harmless but can make you feel uncomfortable.
Abnormal vaginal discharge can also be a symptom of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). If not treated immediately, STIs can cause complications, which involve the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, and can be transmitted to sexual partners.
Therefore, the detection and treatment of STIs are important. Possible causes of abnormal vaginal discharge include:
If the vaginal discharge is brownish or bloodstained, you need to be careful. Because it could be a sign of cervical cancer. This is indeed rare. But if you are worried, consult a doctor immediately for further examination. Consult a doctor if you have:
Other signs of cervical cancer are vaginal bleeding, including inter-menstrual bleeding, after sexual intercourse or bleeding after menopause, pelvic pain, swollen or bloated abdomen, and persistent pressure or pain in the abdomen or pelvis.
In addition, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, increasing urinary frequency, and constipation or diarrhea also need to be aware of as another sign of cervical cancer.
Early detection of cervical cancer can be done with certain checks routinely such as pap smears. This examination aims to look for pre-cancerous signs such as abnormal cell growth or changes in cells in the cervix.
Pap smear tests performed routinely are the best method for detecting early-stage cervical cancer and are highly recommended.
The American Cancer Society guidelines recommend pap smear examinations of women with the following conditions:
After knowing the various signs described above, cervical cancer can be prevented with the following tips:
The appearance of cervical cancer can be characterized by the presence of abnormal vaginal discharge symptoms as described above. When experiencing this, immediately consult your condition to the doctor to get the right diagnosis and treatment.