{"id":206288,"date":"2025-08-17T19:07:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T19:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rohsi.org\/?p=206288"},"modified":"2025-08-17T19:15:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T19:15:08","slug":"cervical-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rohsi.org\/?p=206288","title":{"rendered":"CERVICAL CANCER"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"

Cervical Cancer<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Temitope Adebayo <\/strong><\/p>\n

M.Sc. Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology | Microbiologist | Research Assistant | Biotech Enthusiast<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumour arising from the cells of the cervix \u2014 the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. According to global estimates, cervical cancer caused approximately 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020 (WHO, 2022).<\/p>\n

Recent years have seen intensified efforts toward elimination. In June 2025, global leaders convened at the second Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum in Bali, reaffirming commitments to the WHO\u2019s 90-70-90 targets: 90% HPV vaccination by age 15, 70% screening by ages 35 and 45, and 90% treatment of detected cases. Early detection and prevention are crucial, as the disease is highly preventable and treatable when found in its early stages.<\/p>\n

Anatomy and Function of the Cervix<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cervix serves as the gateway between the uterus and vagina. It plays an important role during menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth. It also produces mucus that changes consistency during the menstrual cycle to either facilitate or block sperm entry.<\/p>\n

Causes and Risk Factors<\/strong><\/p>\n

The primary cause of cervical cancer is persistent infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV types 16 and 18, which together account for about 70% of cases (Arbyn et al., 2020). Other risk factors include early onset of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, smoking, prolonged use of oral contraceptives, a weakened immune system (e.g., HIV infection), and a family history of cervical cancer (CDC, 2023)<\/p>\n

Pathophysiology<\/strong><\/p>\n

HPV infects the epithelial cells of the cervix, integrating its DNA into the host genome. This disrupts normal cell cycle control, leading to the production of viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, which inactivate tumour suppressor proteins p53 and Rb. Over time, infected cells may progress from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) to invasive carcinoma (Bhatla & Singhal, 2020).<\/p>\n

Signs and Symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n

In its early stages, cervical cancer often produces no noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses, common signs may include abnormal vaginal bleeding (after intercourse, between periods, or after menopause), foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, and pain during sexual intercourse (WHO, 2022).<\/p>\n

Screening and Diagnosis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Routine screening is critical for detecting precancerous changes. Common methods include:<\/p>\n