Cervical cancer and pregnancy. What you should know?

Pregnancy is a special time. Unfortunately, despite the many positives it brings, there is still a risk of developing cervical cancer. In fact, sometimes it is pregnancy that can contribute to the earlier detection of the disease. It is possible thanks to the standard tests dedicated for pregnant women. The key role in this matter plays pap smear test during pregnancy, which allows the detection of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer while pregnant

If a cervical cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy, your next steps will depend on:

• The type of cancer;
• Tumor size;
• Stage of the disease;
• Week of pregnancy;
• The patient's decision.

According to Cancer Research UK, most cases diagnosed during pregnancy relate to the early stage of the disease development. Studies also show that pregnancy does not change the rate of disease development - its course is the same as in the case of non-pregnant women.

Cervical cancer and pregnancy - treatment

Treatment of cervical cancer in pregnancy depends primarily on the stage of development of the fetus and the will of the pregnant woman herself. Changes of a benign nature can be qualified for observation. Further oncological interventions are usually postponed until the natural termination of the pregnancy. In the case of malignant lesions and a simultaneous lack of will to maintain pregnancy by the pregnant woman, the treatment is the same as in the case of non-pregnant women.

These actions are carried out according to the general rule to postpone the initiation of therapy until the second trimester of pregnancy and to attempt surgical treatment. If cervical cancer is detected in the third trimester, the main indication is urgent termination of pregnancy through cesarean section and choice of therapy
In most cases, cervical cancer is diagnosed at an early stage. The studies conducted so far have not shown that pregnancy accelerates the development of the disease, so the prognosis is the same as in the case of non-pregnant women.

What to do to minimize the risk of cervical cancer in pregnancy?

Of course, prevention is a key role in minimizing the risk of developing the disease. Cervical cancer prevention consists mainly in regular gynecological examinations. Due to systematic approach to this issue, the developing disease can be detected at a very early stage. It should be emphasized at this point that neoplasms may not make themselves felt for a long time. When symptoms appear, there is a risk that the disease has already progressed to an advanced stage.

Cervical cancer prevention and pregnancy - HPV vaccination

The main cause of cervical cancer incidence is the human papillomavirus types 16 and 18. Therefore, HPV vaccination is a very important element in the prevention of this cancer. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), girls aged 9 to 14 should be vaccinated. Secondly, both young and adult women should be vaccinated. The prerequisite for vaccination is the lack of contact with the virus before it is performed.

It is worth noting here that vaccination may also be recommended when an infection has already occurred. This is possible when one type of virus has been detected in the body. Vaccination may prevent infection with another type of virus. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to find a way to get rid of the human papillomavirus completely after infection. For this reason, apart from vaccinations, it is important to remember to have regular Pap smear tests.

Pap smear - prevention of cervical cancer during pregnancy

One of the basic tests performed as part of the prevention of cervical cancer is pap smear. Performing this examination regularly during visits to the gynecologist allows for the detection of neoplasms at every stage of its development. Thanks to it, it is possible to take appropriate measures at a very early stage of the disease. Pap smear is also one of the obligatory and basic elements of gynecological care in pregnant women. It is usually performed in the 10th week of pregnancy, i.e., 6 weeks after the absence of your period. If the test is not performed at this stage, it may also be performed at a later time. However, it should be remembered that the sooner the cytology is performed, the better. Performing the test a few months before pregnancy is also not exempt from the obligation. The cervix is examined in a standard way and does not pose a risk of pregnancy.