Typical symptoms of cervical cancer are bleeding that continues between periods, bleeding after sexual intercourse and bleeding after the menopause. Often there is also a smelly vaginal discharge and discomfort during intercourse. However because of the cervical screening programme many abnormalities of the cervix are found before cancer develops and symptoms can occur. Women who have regular smears, every three years, have a greatly reduced risk of developing cervical cancer.
The Department of Health has given guidelines to family doctors (GPs) suggesting they should arrange an urgent appointment with a specialist in diseases of the female reproductive system (a gynaecologist) to check for cervical cancer for any woman who comes with one or more of the following problems:
- you have bleeding between periods and your GP finds changes on your cervix that could be cancer
- you are over 35 and experience bleeding after sexual intercourse for more than four weeks
- you have gone through the change (menopause) and have bleeding from the vagina more than once, or have had heavy bleeding at least once when you are taking HRT and are over the age of 55
- you have unexpected bleeding for more than four weeks after stopping HRT
- your GP finds a lump in your pelvis (the lower part of your abdomen) - unless your GP is sure it is a lump called a fibroid in the womb, fibroids are not cancer and do not need an urgent referral).
Some women do not need an urgent referral (that is, being seen by a specialist within two weeks) but should see a specialist within 4 to 6 weeks if they experience bleeding after they have gone through the menopause if they are not taking HRT or if they experience bleeding repeatedly after sexual intercourse, unless there is a clear explanation for this.
All these problems can have other causes apart from cancer but the important thing is that if you develop any of these problems you should see your GP who can discuss them with you and, if they think it is necessary, arrange an appointment with a specialist to be on the safe side.