Cervical Cancer Vaccination – Why You Need To Get It Now

HerZindagi talked to IVF expert Archana Dhawan Bajaj and she shared how cervical cancer affects us and how vaccination can help in combating it.

Cervical cancer is one of the major killers among the different types of cancers affecting women across the world. According to the National Health Portal of India, 122844 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 67477 die from the disease (estimations for 2012) every year. Looking at these numbers can be scary but getting vaccinated can be one of the best things you can do to stay safe. HerZindagi talked to IVF expert Archana Dhawan Bajaj and she shared how this disease affects us and how vaccination can help in combating it.

Cervical Cancer Awareness: Expert Speak

Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and IVF expert at Nurture IVF, Delhi told HerZindagi that cervical cancer affects the mouth of the uterus and it affects a large number of Indian women. It develops due to overgrowth of uterine cells. It is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is of various types and some of them are responsible for causing cancer of the cervix. In fact, cervical cancer can develop due to HPV infection, repeated pregnancies, multiple sexual partners, or due to a family history as well.

Dhawan Bajaj Archana says that getting a cervical vaccine is necessary to save yourself from an HPV infection. Girls who are 10 years of age to women who are 45 years of age can take the cervical cancer vaccination. There are 3 doses of the vaccination, the first two are spaced a month apart and the third one is given after 6 months.

Read More: Health Alert! These Everyday Things Put Us At A Higher Risk Of Cancer

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

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In all kinds of fatal diseases, there are symptoms as the disease slowly starts to affect your body. In case of cervical cancer, it can simply begin with loss of bladder control, fatigue or abnormal discharge. The cancer develops in stages to take over healthy tissue and can even spread outside the cervix to affect other reproductive organs.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

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While getting vaccinated cannot cure you once you develop the disease, it can keep you safe from the infection in the first place. So it is better to start getting it at an early age in case you are vulnerable to the cancer-causing risk factors.

For more informative articles on women’s health, fitness tips for women or celeb fitness stories, keep reading HerZindagi.

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