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Cervical cancer - Symptoms

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cervical cancer.

Alternative Names

Dysplasia; Human papillomas virus; Pap smear

Symptoms:

Most women with dysplasia or pre-invasive cancer have no symptoms. Screening tests, therefore, are very important.

When the cancer becomes invasive, unusual bleeding can occur. Bleeding may stop and start again between regular periods or there may be bleeding after menopause. Unexpected bleeding can also occur after intercourse or a pelvic exam. Periods sometimes last longer or are heavier than usual. Increased vaginal discharge may be noticeable as well. Pelvic pain or pain during sexual intercourse can occur.

These symptoms are not exclusive to cervical cancer. Sexually transmitted diseases, for instance, can cause similar symptoms.

Resources

www.cancer.gov -- National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.org -- American Cancer Society
www.acog.org -- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
www.ashastd.org -- American Social Health Association
www.nccc-online.org -- National Cervical Cancer Coalition
www.cervicalcancercampaign.org -- Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign
www.thegcf.org -- Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
www.wcn.org -- Women's Cancer Network
www.cancer.net -- Cancer.Net

References

Committee on Infectious Diseases. Prevention of human papillomavirus infection: provisional recommendations for immunization of girls and women with quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine. Pediatrics. 2007 Sep;120(3):666-8.

Dunne EF, Unger ER, Sternberg M, McQuillan G, Swan DC, Patel SS, et al. Prevalence of HPV infection among females in the United States. JAMA. 2007 Feb 28;297(8):813-9.

FUTURE II Study Group. Quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus to prevent high-grade cervical lesions. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 10;356(19):1915-27.

Garland SM, Hernandez-Avila M, Wheeler CM, Perez G, Harper DM, Leodolter S, et al. Quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus to prevent anogenital diseases. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 10;356(19):1928-43.

Hildesheim A, Herrero R, Wacholder S, Rodriguez AC, Solomon D, Bratti MC, et al. Effect of human papillomavirus 16/18 L1 viruslike particle vaccine among young women with preexisting infection: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2007 Aug 15;298(7):743-53.

Huang CM. Human papillomavirus and vaccination. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83(6):701-6.

Hunter MI, Monk BJ and Tewari KS. Cervical neoplasia in pregnancy. Part 1: screening and management of preinvasive disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;199(1):3-9.

Hunter MI, Tewari K and Monk BJ. Cervical neoplasia in pregnancy. Part 2: current treatment of invasive disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;199(1):10-8.

Long HJ 3rd, Laack NN and Gostout BS. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007;82(12):1566-74.

Markowitz LE, Dunne EF, Saraiya M, Lawson HW, Chesson H, Unger ER; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2007 Mar 23;56(RR-2):1-24.

Mayrand MH, Duarte-Franco E, Rodrigues I, Walter SD, Hanley J, Ferenczy A, et al. Human papillomavirus DNA versus Papanicolaou screening tests for cervical cancer. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(16): 1579-88.

Naucler P, Ryd W, Tornberg S, Strand A, Wadell G, Elfgren K, et al. Human papillomavirus and Papanicolaou tests to screen for cervical cancer. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(16):1589-97.

Ronco G, Cuzick J, Pierotti P, Cariaggi MP, Dalla Palma P, Naldoni C, et al. Accuracy of liquid based versus conventional cytology: overall results of new technologies for cervical cancer screening: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2007 Jul 7;335(7609):28. Epub 2007 May 21.

Saslow D, Castle PE, Cox JT, Davey DD, Einstein MH, Ferris DG, et al. American Cancer Society Guideline for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine use to prevent cervical cancer and its precursors. CA Cancer J Clin. 2007 Jan-Feb;57(1):7-28.

Wright TC Jr., Massad LS, Dunton CJ, Spitzer M, Wilkinson EJ and Solomon D. 2006 consensus guidelines for the management of women with abnormal cervical cancer screening tests. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;197(4): 346-55.

Wright TC Jr., Massad LS, Dunton CJ, Spitzer M, Wilkinson EJ and Solomon D. 2006 consensus guidelines for the management of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or adenocarcinoma in situ. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;197(4): 340-5.

Reviewed last on: 10/6/2008
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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