Cervical cancer symptoms

Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on February 05, 2025
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Cervical cancer generally has no symptoms in its early stages. In advanced stages, symptoms become more obvious. In the early stages, signs may include increased vaginal discharge, bleeding after sexual intercourse, or discharge containing blood streaks, typically without abdominal pain. In advanced stages, there might be irregular vaginal bleeding or heavy bleeding, and sometimes the secretions may appear like rice-wash water. If an infection occurs, there can be a foul smell, and pain in the lower abdomen may be felt, indicating the cancer has progressed to a late stage. Therefore, if there is an increase in discharge or bleeding after intercourse during the early stages, it is crucial to promptly visit a hospital for examination.

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How to prevent cervical cancer

How to prevent cervical cancer: Firstly, it is very important to prevent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). So, how can one prevent HPV infection? First, in choosing sexual partners, one should select a healthy male, generally a steady one, and avoid relationships with men who have penile cancer, prostate cancer, or whose ex-wife had cervical cancer, as these men are considered high-risk, and the women they come into contact with are also at increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Secondly, we should pay attention to personal hygiene. Thirdly, one should enhance their physical constitution to prevent viral infections and to maintain cleanliness. Fourthly, attention should be given to prevention of other contributing factors, such as early childbirth. Therefore, it is necessary to choose an appropriate age for childbirth. Multiple births are also related to cervical cancer, so if pregnant, one should avoid miscarriage and multiple dilation and curettage procedures. Fifthly, adhere to a healthy and reasonable diet, and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

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How long does it take for cervical cancer to develop?

The causes of cervical cancer are now clear; it is caused by an infection with the HPV virus. Generally, this virus needs to be carried for more than two to three years before it can infect and develop into cervical cancer. There is a process of carcinogenesis where normal epithelial tissue transforms into cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. If the HPV infection is not treated and continues, it could lead to cervical cancer. Thus, the development process is relatively long, typically requiring two to three years. It is recommended that sexually active women undergo cervical cancer screening to check for any pathological changes in the cervix, including HPV, TCT, and colposcopy examinations.

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Cervical cancer indicators

The main indicators of cervical cancer are still the examination of the cervix and cervical canal tissues. There are obvious cancerous changes, and under the microscope pathological sections can show tendencies of cell carcinogenesis, or already developed cancer. The second is the cytological examination of cervical scrapings, which detects the presence of cancer cells. The third is the iodine test, where areas that do not stain after iodine staining indicate a lack of glycogen in the epithelium, suggesting possible lesions. The fourth is colposcopy, which may reveal suspicious cancerous areas, allowing for biopsy to confirm cancer cells. The fifth includes ultrasound, CT, MRI, etc., which can detect mass occupying lesions, all of which are indicators of cervical cancer. Of course, abnormalities in tumor markers are also considered, but the main reliance is still on the indicators from pathological examinations to determine if it's cervical cancer.

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Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can a cervical biopsy detect cervical cancer?

Cervical biopsy can detect cervical cancer as long as the altered tissue is collected. However, some people have a type 3 transformation zone in the cervix, making it difficult to obtain the altered tissue, and in these cases, cervical scraping is needed. Therefore, it is best to perform the biopsy under colposcopic examination and conduct a cervical canal scraping at the same time. If there is cervical cancer, it can be detected, and generally, it will not be missed.

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Symptoms of cervical cancer

The most typical early symptom of cervical cancer is usually contact bleeding during intercourse. Clinically, once contact bleeding occurs, it is essential to go to the hospital for cervical cancer screening as soon as possible, generally involving a cervical TCT and HPV test. These two tests can initially screen for the presence of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. If it has progressed to the stage of cervical cancer, there may be a large amount of vaginal discharge with a foul smell, and severe cases can have symptoms like bleeding and abdominal pain. Therefore, patients with cervical cancer must undergo relevant cervical examinations at the hospital. If it is indeed cervical cancer, treatment options should be selected based on the stage of the disease to treat the symptoms accordingly. Hence, if there is any irregular vaginal bleeding, it is critical to go to the hospital for the relevant cancer screening.