You Can Get a Cervical Cancer Vaccine Until You're 43

The development of cervical cancer, which is the second most common type of cancer in women after breast cancer, has been going on for many years all over the world. Since it is a type of cancer that develops slowly, it can be detected and treated with regular scans and examinations and cancer can be prevented. Thanks to national cervical cancer screening programs, the incidence of cervical cancer worldwide and related deaths are rapidly decreasing with early diagnosis and treatment.

If you have extra-menstrual bleeding...

There is usually no symptom of cervical cancer in the early period. Cervical cancer can be suspected with abnormal smear test detected in the period without this symptom. Extra-menstrual bleeding and staining may be symptoms such as bleeding after sexual intercourse, bleeding after menopause, watery pink-brown discharge, excessive amount of menstrual bleeding, as well as complaints such as groin pain in the future, problems with urination, oedema in the legs, and weight loss.

The risk of occurrence increases in these cases;

• Having multiple sexual partners
• Having a male partner who has had sexual experience with more than one person
• Sexual experience before the age of 18
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• Conditions that cause suppression of the immune system (such as AIDS, organ transplantation)
• Other sexually transmitted infections
• Delivering a lot of babies

Make sure you get the Smear test

The purpose of cervical cancer screening is to detect changes in cervical cells in the early period and to prevent progression to cancer with necessary interventions. The tests used in the screening are the smear test and the HPV test, which investigates high-risk viruses that can cause cervical cancer. Both tests are performed by taking a swab from the cervix with the help of a brush, spatula or cotton swab. It is a painless, simple, few-minute procedure.

A test is required at least every 3 years!

The most common age range of cervical cancer, which is a type of cancer seen in women over 30 years of age, is between 35-44 years of age. Almost all of them are caused by the Human Papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus. It is recommended that all women between the ages of 21-65 have smear tests at least every 3 years or HPV test with smear every 5 years after the age of 30. Co-administration of HPV test and smear test is more effective in preventing cancer.

Cancer can be detected and prevented with treatment

According to Smear and HPV test results, colposcopy is performed, which means that the cervix is enlarged and examined with the help of a microscope when necessary. Biopsies are taken from the required areas. As a result, when cancer precursor changes are detected, tissue may need to be removed from the cervix. Cancer can be prevented with this procedure. If cancer is detected as a result of colposcopy or biopsy taken from a visible lesion in the cervix, cancer spread is evaluated with various examination and imaging methods, and one or more of the treatment options such as surgeries for the removal of cancerous tissues, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are applied according to the stage of the disease.

Vaccine is the most effective method of protection

The important point in protection from cervical cancer is to protect against HPV infection. There are 2 vaccines against HPV virus in our country. Preferably, girls and boys between the ages of 11-12 should be vaccinated before having their first sexual experience. However, even if there is sexual experience, both genders can be vaccinated between the ages of 9-26. In fact, it has been found to be effective in women up to 43 years of age. The vaccine should be given as 2 doses before the age of 15 and 3 doses after the age of 15. Even if vaccination is performed, routine cervical cancer screening tests should continue to be performed.

Do not neglect your regular gynaecological examination

Monogamy, the use of condoms during sexual intercourse also reduces the risk of HPV transmission and reduces the likelihood of cervical cancer. With regular annual gynaecological examination and smear and HPV tests taken at appropriate intervals, pre-cancer changes are detected in the early period and the progression of cancer is prevented with the necessary interventions.

Prepared by the Medical Editorial Board. Our health library contents have been prepared for informational purposes only and with the scientific content on the registration date. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis or treatment about your health, please consult your doctor or health institution.