According to experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, one of the key reasons for high incidence of cervical cancer among women from low-income families may be early sexual activity. While cervical cancer strikes women with lower income twice as often as their higher income counterparts, the risk of getting infected with papillomavirus (HPV), which causes most gynecological diseases and cancer, is at the same level for any woman, regardless of her income level.
High cervical cancer rate among low-income groups was previously explained by the fact that poor women can’t afford seeing their doctor regularly. Now it has emerged that the age at which a women becomes sexually active and has her first child is even more crucial risk factor.
Women from low income families typically become sexually active four years earlier than normal. The risk of HPV-induced cervical cancer is higher in case of becoming sexually active as a teenager, but also remains high for women until they reach 25 years of age. While we are exposed to the risk of getting infected with HPV at any age, the infection is especially dangerous for younger women because viruses have more time to manifest their harmful properties which could eventually trigger cancer cells in uterus.
Gynecologists suggest that schoolgirls from low income families get vaccinated against HPV beforehand.
Women must get themselves examined immediately after they notice bleeding, experience painful sex or menopause.
Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/celiece.
