Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisStagesTreatmentImpact on FertilityPreventionOutlookNext in Cervical Cancer GuideThe 4 Stages of Cervical Cancer

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Stages

Treatment

Impact on Fertility

Prevention

Outlook

Next in Cervical Cancer Guide

Cervical canceris the uncontrolled growth of cells in the cervix, which connects the vagina to the upper area of the uterus.It usually occurs in people over 30. The main cause of cervical cancer is infection withhuman papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual activity.

Over half of all sexually active adults acquire an HPV infection at some point in their lives, but not every person with a cervix will develop cervical cancer after acquiring HPV.This is typically aslow-growing cancer, which is why regular screening is important.

SDI Productions / Getty Images

Woman waiting to see doctor after Cervical Cancer Diagnosis

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

Many times, especially early on, you may not notice any specificsymptoms of cervical cancer. This is why regular checkups with a gynecologist are important, as well as regular screenings.

Early Signs of Cervical Cancer

Early-stage cervical cancer usually doesn’t have symptoms, but when they are present, they can include:

Symptoms After Cancer Has Spread

After the cancer has spread, symptoms usually become apparent and can include:

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Persistent infection with high-risk strains of HPVcauses almost all instances of cervical cancer.The vast majority of sexually active people will acquire an HPV infection at some point in their lives, and about half of these infections are with high-risk strains.HPV16 and HPV18 are the two most common strains that cause most cervical cancers.

In most cases, the immune system clears the HPV infection. When the infection isn’t controlled or cleared, it stays active in your cells. This is when it can cause changes that can lead to cancer.

Although rare, fetalexposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES)can cause cervical cancer after birth.DES was a drug given to pregnant people from 1940–1971 to help prevent miscarriage and preterm labor but later turned out to have adverse effects.

HPV in Women

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors

Along with HPV infection, other risk factors that can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer:

Cervical Cancer Diagnosis

If you have symptoms of cervical cancer or screening tests show the possibility of cervical cancer, your healthcare provider will want to do follow-up tests to determine what’s going on. Along with a medical history, pelvic exam, andrectovaginal exam, you may undergo the following procedures and tests:

Types of Cervical CancerThe main types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma:Up to 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, developing from cells in the exocervix; these cancers usually start where the exocervix (the part of the cervix opening into the vagina) joins with the endocervix (the part of the cervix opening into the uterus), called the transformation zone.Adenocarcinomas start in glandular cells; in the endocervix, these are the cells that make mucus.Rarer cervical cancers are mixed carcinomas or cancers that have characteristics of both of the above types; these are also called adenosquamous carcinomas.

Types of Cervical Cancer

The main types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma:Up to 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, developing from cells in the exocervix; these cancers usually start where the exocervix (the part of the cervix opening into the vagina) joins with the endocervix (the part of the cervix opening into the uterus), called the transformation zone.Adenocarcinomas start in glandular cells; in the endocervix, these are the cells that make mucus.Rarer cervical cancers are mixed carcinomas or cancers that have characteristics of both of the above types; these are also called adenosquamous carcinomas.

The main types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma:

Cervical Cancer Stages

The stages of cancer describe how far the cancer has spread in a person’s body. The stage of the cancer also helps to guide treatment decisions. Thestages of cervical cancerare as follows:

Cervical Cancer Treatment

Treatment for cervical cancervaries, depending on the stage of the cancer and where it spreads. A combination of treatments may prove useful.

Surgery

Surgery may remove cancerous tissue or, when it has spread, various organs. It can include:

Radiation

Radiation uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation can be administered internally (called brachytherapy) with a radiation source placed in the vagina, or externally from a machine.It can also help relieve pain and shrink tumors.

Chemotherapy

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy uses medications to interfere with certain enzymes, proteins, or other factors that are involved in cancer growth.For cervical cancer, targeted therapies include:

Can Cervical Cancer Impact Fertility?

Cervical cancer and its treatmentcan impact fertility, depending on what kind of treatment you have for it. Though healthcare providers often recommend radical hysterectomy and pelvic node dissection for early-stage cervical cancers, these also render you unable to get pregnant because they remove the uterus.

How to Prevent Cervical Cancer

Though there is no way to ever fully prevent any kind of cancer, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer.

Screenings for Cervical Cancer

Regular screening testsare the best way to catch cervical cancer in its earliest stages when it’s easiest to treat. Two screening tools for cervical cancer include thePap testand theHPV test.You can take them together or alone during a pelvic exam.

Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you may need more screening more often, given any risk factors or family history.

HPV Vaccination for Cervical Cancer

Another way to help reduce the risk of cervical cancer is gettingvaccinated against HPV. Vaccination can begin at age 9 and is recommended for everyone (all sexes) between the ages of 11 and 12.The vaccine is given in two doses, six to 12 months apart.

If a person is 15 or older when they get their first vaccination, they need three doses of the vaccine. Those with weakened immune systems should also get three doses.

The vaccine is not generally recommended for those over 26 because those over this age have already likely been exposed to HPV. If you are 26–45 and are interested in vaccination, talk with a healthcare provider about your risk for HPV and the possible benefits of the vaccine.

Cervical Cancer Outlook

Though these are just statistics and do not represent individual cases, early detection and treatment are important for survival, which is why regular screenings are key.

Knowing symptoms, going for regular checkups, and having regular Pap tests and HPV tests can help your healthcare providers find any cervical abnormalities as early as possible. This allows them to monitor you and make treatment recommendations if they progress.

With the availability of the HPV vaccine, healthcare providers can prevent many cases of cervical cancer.

15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cervical cancer basics.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer symptoms.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer causes, risk factors, and prevention.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Cervical cancer prevention & risk factors.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer diagnosis.American Cancer Society.What is cervical cancer?National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Radiation therapy for cervical cancer.Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.Cervical cancer surgery.American Cancer Society.Screening tests for cervical cancer.Curry SJ, Krist AH, et al.Screening for cervical cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA2018;320:674–86. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.10897American Cancer Society.The American Cancer Society guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer prognosis and survival rates.

15 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cervical cancer basics.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer symptoms.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer causes, risk factors, and prevention.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Cervical cancer prevention & risk factors.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer diagnosis.American Cancer Society.What is cervical cancer?National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Radiation therapy for cervical cancer.Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.Cervical cancer surgery.American Cancer Society.Screening tests for cervical cancer.Curry SJ, Krist AH, et al.Screening for cervical cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA2018;320:674–86. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.10897American Cancer Society.The American Cancer Society guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer prognosis and survival rates.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cervical cancer basics.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer symptoms.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer causes, risk factors, and prevention.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Cervical cancer prevention & risk factors.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer diagnosis.American Cancer Society.What is cervical cancer?National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Radiation therapy for cervical cancer.Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.Cervical cancer surgery.American Cancer Society.Screening tests for cervical cancer.Curry SJ, Krist AH, et al.Screening for cervical cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA2018;320:674–86. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.10897American Cancer Society.The American Cancer Society guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer prognosis and survival rates.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cervical cancer basics.

National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer symptoms.

National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer causes, risk factors, and prevention.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Cervical cancer prevention & risk factors.

National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer diagnosis.

American Cancer Society.What is cervical cancer?

National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer stages.

National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer treatment.

American Cancer Society.Radiation therapy for cervical cancer.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.Cervical cancer surgery.

American Cancer Society.Screening tests for cervical cancer.

Curry SJ, Krist AH, et al.Screening for cervical cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA2018;320:674–86. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.10897

American Cancer Society.The American Cancer Society guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination.

National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer prognosis and survival rates.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?