Understanding Cervical Cancer

The cervix is a mystery to most women, and perhaps only their gynecologist would know its intimate secrets all too well. But as that may be the case, health experts are now encouraging women to get to know their bodies better. Learning how to examine their cervix could be an empowering tool, especially when they start bearing children or engage in sexual intercourse.

Why Do a Cervical Self-Exam?

While it can be intimidating for a woman to examine her own cervix, a self-exam will enable her to efficiently track her menstrual cycle, particularly when she has irregular periods or when she is entering the phase of menopause. A self-exam should be helpful when she decides to do natural family planning methods to determine ovulation. But even if she’s not into natural birth control, knowing how the cervix functions can help her when she experiences mysterious pains during menstrual cycles or sex, or basically just when her cycle feels different. Doing this can also be a preventive measure against cervical cancer. Since cycles and symptoms always vary, with regular self-exams, a woman can immediately tell that something is off. This could then provide her with valuable information that even her doctors can use for their diagnosis.

How to Do A Self-Exam of the Cervix

Before doing a self-exam, make sure that you’re in a room that is comfortable and secure. You must also be comfortable about inserting your clean fingers inside your vaginal canal, as there is no other way to do a self-exam, but this. Position yourself carefully by squatting or sitting on the toilet. Then, slowly insert your pointer and middle finger into the vagina, and carefully feel its walls. The cervix should be somewhere forward and it will feel round like a donut, or slit-shaped (if you have already given birth). It will also feel slightly rubbery. If you can’t feel it, you may have stand with one foot on a chair, so that you can reach it.

• When you’re not fertile, the cervix’s position should be lower, easily accessible and may feel closed, or tight, or firm. The cervical fluid may be dry, or sometimes have texture similar to lotion.
• When you’re fertile or ovulating, the cervix should be positioned a little bit higher and harder to reach or tap. Its opening should be soft and slippery, and cervical fluid’s texture would feel like egg whites.

Sometimes, bumps that feel like pimples may occur on your cervix, but these are usually harmless.

Keeping Record

Keep a chart of the position, texture and fluid consistency of your cervix daily to help you or your doctor see a pattern to your cycle. You can also do a self-exam when you’re pregnant, as it can help the doctor assess the general health of your vagina.

Symptoms to Watch Out for

The fact is, symptoms of cancer of the cervix aren’t very obvious, which is why these tests are important. In various cases, however, the first few signs could be the following:

• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• Pain during sex
• Pain when passing urine
• Painful monthly periods
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Foul-smelling discharge

But these can also be true for symptoms of other diseases. If you suspect something after doing a self-examination, it is always best to seek the advice of a professional and undergo a screening.

Diet for Cervical Cancer Prevention

A high number of cervical cancer cases develop due to an infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and experts believe that eating the right kinds of food can prevent this virus from decaying the body. Diet must consist of food rich in antioxidants, foliate, carotenoids and flavonoids, which are mostly found in fruits and vegetables like the following:

It should be worthy to note that a good diet of mostly fruits and vegetables isn’t going to stop the cancer altogether, as women of childbearing and sexually active age should still undergo pap smear and HPV vaccination regularly to lower their risk of cervical cancer.