Romania Faces High cervical Cancer rates Due to HPV

Romania has one of the highest incidences and deaths from cervical cancer in the European Union.

Annually, approximately 3,380 cases of cervical cancer are registered in our contry, according to the ICO/IARC Details Center on HPV and Cancer (2023) report.But few infections are as widespread and, simultaneously occurring, as little understood as HPV. “approximately 8 out of 10 sexually active women will have an HPV infection at some point.In clinical practice, HPV infections are very common, especially in young women,” he specified Dr. Bianca Panda, specialist gynecologist at MedLife Arad.

The good news about human papilloma virus (HPV) is that,most of the time,the body clears it on its own. The bad news? Some strains can lead, over time, to cervical cancer, but not only that, but also to other types of cancer.An estimated 1,805 women die annually from cervical cancer, according to the ICO/IARC report.

The most risky HPV strains are oncogenic

HPV infection is mostly asymptomatic,which is why many women do not even know they have been infected. Most infections are transient and disappear spontaneously within 1-2 years.But there are also dangerous infections that should not be ignored. “The most common strains associated with cervical cancer are HPV 16 and 18. In addition to these, there are other strains with increased oncogenic risk: 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58″ said Dr. Panda. The road from simple infection to cancer is slow but real: “If the infection is persistent, it can lead to cellular changes, then to precancerous lesions (HSIL, CIN2/3) and, over time – on average 10-15 years – to invasive cervical cancer”, has explained Dr. Panda.

The evolution depends on:

• viral strain,
• immune system,
• lifestyle.

The risk factors that increase the danger and the signs that must urgently send to the doctor

Along with HPV infection, the risk increases in case of:

• early sexual onset and the large number of partners,
• smoking,
• immunosuppression,
• history of sexually transmitted diseases,
• the lack of regular testing,
• long-term use of contraceptives without gynecological control.

Most of the time, the lesions do not cause symptoms. However, they may occur:

• bleeding after intercourse,
• abnormal vaginal discharge,
• bleeding between periods
• pelvic pain (especially in advanced stages).

A real case, that of a 28-year-old patient…