HPV and Cervical Cancer

A close link between HPV and cervical cancer has been confirmed by many scientific researches. Cervical cancer affects several hundred thousand women yearly and it is estimated to be a serious problem for public health services. HPV has been shown to be the main cause of this condition since this virus is detected in about 95% cases.

Today about one third of sexually active population are infected with HPV and the incidence of HPV-associated diseases continuously increases. HPV infection develops in skin and mucosal membranes, inducing pathological cellular transformations. Cellular transformations caused by the virus may lead to the occurrence of tumors which may sometimes be cancerous. It should be noted that the development of different diseases related to HPV and cervical cancer can be prevented, if HPV-related disease is detected early and the patient receives an adequate management.

Some strains of HPV are more likely to initiate malignant cellular transformations than others. The strains of HPV that are most often detected in patients with cervical cancer are categorized as high risk strains. High risk strains tend to be sexually spread and they most often affect genitalia. It is important to know that women with genital HPV and cervical cancer may not have obvious symptoms and cervical abnormalities can be identified only by a specialist. Due to this fact, gynecologists recommend women to have medical check-ups at least once a year.

It is possible to find early signs of HPV and cervical cancer using various tests and diagnostic methods. A relatively effective and inexpensive tool to detect different abnormalities on the cervix is test Papanicolaou (Pap test). The assessment of cervical epithelium may be performed through colposcopic examination and biopsy which are prescribed to better diagnose abnormalities detected by Pap test.

Cancerous tumor of the cervix usually grows from dysplastic lesions and this process may last several years. This provides the possibility to detect cervical dysplasia by regular tests before it degenerates into cancer. Women with cervical dysplasia are often referred for HPV testing because it enables doctors to assess the likelihood of cancer and define an optimal treatment strategy. The programs for early detection of HPV and cervical cancer have proved their efficacy because they have really contributed to the decrease in cervical cancer incidence, especially in developed countries.