Untitled Document

Definitions & Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention & Symptoms

The Cervix
Cervical Dysplasia and Cancer
Pap Tests and Pelvic Exams

What is the Cervix and where is it?

The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb) located between the bladder and the rectum. It forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the body

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What are Cervical Dysplasia and Cervical Cancer and how are they caused?

Cervical cancer is caused by caused by infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. In the US, despite the availability of Pap smear testing, cervical cancer remains the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer. While there are many different strains of HPV, more than half are caused by HPV 16. The odds that a sexually active woman sill be infected at least once in her lifetime with HPV are 80 percent.

Cervical cancer, or invasive cervical cancer, occurs when abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix spread deeper into the cervix, or to other tissues or organs. Cervical cancer occurs most often in women over the age of 40. It is different from cancer that begins in other parts of the uterus and requires different treatment. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.

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What are Pap tests and Pelvic exams and why are they important?

A Pap test, along with a pelvic exam, is an important part of a woman's routine health care because it may detect abnormalities that can lead to invasive cancer. Most invasive cancers of the cervix can be detected early if women have Pap tests and pelvic examinations regularly.

As with many types of cancer, cancer of the cervix is more likely to be successfully treated if it is detected early. Inflammation may be caused by: yeast infections, trichomoniasis infections, bacteria, other viruses, or medications. Pap tests can also detect inflammation caused by: yeast infections, bacterial infections such as; trichomonas, gonorrhea, or chlamydia, other viruses, medications or other chemicals, hormones, and pregnancy.

During a Pap exam, cells are collected with a cervical brush from the transformation zone of the cervix (the most likely location for lesion development). The cells are then spread onto a slide and sent off to a lab for further analysis.

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