Unprotected sex causes cervical cancer

An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Consultant, Dr. Olaleye Olalekan, has warned women against unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners, saying it causes Human Papilloma Virus, which always leads to cervical cancer..

Speaking at a health awareness seminar on the theme, “Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer,” organised by Lagoon Hospitals in Lagos on Friday, Olaleye said the disease is sexually transmitted and  peculiar to women.

According to him, abnormal menstrual bleeding, bleeding during sexual contact or after menopause remain the symptoms of cervical cancer over the years.

“Human Papilloma Virus, which is responsible for cervical cancer, genital warts and vaginal, vulvar, anal and penile cancers is the most common sexually transmitted disease, infecting about 80 per cent of young women within five years of becoming sexually active. An estimated 630 million women worldwide are infected.

“This virus is spread during sex from contact with the sores, or lesions, that develop around infected cells.

“Often, the virus is killed by the immune system, but in some people HPV can take hold and cause lesions that can turn cancerous years later,” he noted.

Olaleye, however, urged women observing symptoms of HPV to seek medical attention early to avoid complications. He added, “HPV vaccines are always recommended in pre-pubertal girls.

“Also surgery and radiotherapy are other remedies that are suitable for cervical cancer if the victim seeks medical rescue as early as possible.”

Earlier, the Managing Director, Lagoon Hospitals, Ikeja, Dr. Olajide Ojo, stated that the hospital decided to intervene and educate the public on salient health issues due to increasing late presentation of terminal diseases.

Ojo admonished Nigerians to priorities their health and not allow the cost of medi-care  to discourage them from seeking quality care.

“In this country, screening services are readily available and accessible. So, why should our women continue to die of cervical cancer,” he added.

Also speaking on Prostate Cancer, a consultant urologist, Dr. Andrew Mene, said the disease only affect men above 50 years of age but some cases have been recorded in younger men.

Mene noted that though smoking increases the risk of developing the disease, the cause of prostate cancer has not been established.

He noted that prostate cancer is yet to be linked with sexually- transmitted disease. “Most prostate cancer cases are growing slowly. The symptoms include blood in the urine, seizure in urine flow, loss of appetite, weight loss and bone pains.

“Patients with these symptoms must visit medical experts or a hospital on time for either surgery or radiotherapy,” he added. By Punch