This virus also causes genital warts. Having many sexual partners or a sexually transmitted diseases increases the risk of coming into contact with human papilloma virus. Precancerous cells in the cervix do not cause symptoms and cervical cancer does not usually cause symptoms until it has been growing for some time. The symptoms may then be bleeding after intercourse, bleeding between periods and a pink vaginal discharge. Later there is pain as the cancer starts to grow into other tissues.
Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be treated before it develops.
To obtain a cervical smear, a speculum is inserted into the vagina to open it up and reveal the cervix. A thin wooden spatula is then inserted through the speculum and is firmly stroked over the top of the cervix. This scrapes off cells from the surface of the cervix, which are then smeared onto a microscope slide. It usually takes a week or two after the colposcopy for the results of the biopsies to come back and they will show whether the precancerous cells have turned into cancer cells. The radiation may be given using a special machine that directs radiation to the pelvic area or containers of radioactive material may be placed temporarily in the vagina.