Among the many strains of the devastating disease, cervical cancer is widely recognized by researchers as one of the hardest to detect.
Healthcare professionals believe this is mainly due to the unclear symptoms, which are often mistaken for those of other, more common conditions.
Sadly, this often results in women receiving a late diagnosis, after hesitating to see a doctor, which can ultimately affect the effectiveness of treatment later on.
As a result, leading experts are stressing the importance of recognizing four key signs that could indicate the presence of cancer in the cervix, urging women and girls worldwide not to ignore them.
Concerning statistics
In the UK, a distressing nine women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each day, totaling 3,300 new cases every year.
This cancer develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the cervix lining, eventually forming a tumor.
According to Cancer Research UK, 99.8% of these cases could be entirely preventable through HPV vaccinations, cervical screenings, and awareness of the disease’s symptoms.
However, the challenge is that the four key symptoms experts warn women to watch for are also common signs of less serious conditions, leading many sufferers to avoid seeking medical attention.
1) Abnormal bleeding
For many women, irregular bleeding is just a regular part of life.
Whether it happens between periods, after intercourse, or post-menopause, this frustrating and often painful experience can stem from a variety of causes.
Certain contraceptives—especially the coil, the implant, and the pill—are known to trigger unpredictable bleeding. Meanwhile, conditions like endometriosis and PCOS can make irregular bleeding a frequent issue.
Bleeding after sex is also fairly common, with cervical erosion or ectropion often being the culprit rather than something more serious. Young girls, pregnant women, and those on hormonal birth control are particularly prone to this due to shifts in hormone levels.
However, researchers warn that unusual bleeding patterns could be a potential sign of cervical cancer.
The NHS recommends that anyone experiencing unexplained bleeding between periods or after sex should consult their GP or visit a sexual health clinic.
2) Pain during intercourse
Researchers have suggested that experiencing pain during intimacy could be a warning sign of cervical cancer.
This discomfort doesn’t always manifest as severe pain—it can be as subtle as mild discomfort during sex.
However, because there are countless other potential causes—many of which are far less serious—cervical cancer is often overlooked when it shouldn’t be.
For instance, women who have gone through menopause may experience painful sex due to vaginal dryness. Similarly, infections like thrush or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also lead to discomfort.
Psychological factors, such as past trauma, may contribute to pain during intercourse, as can long-term conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
That said, tumors in or around the cervix—or affecting nearby organs—could also be responsible for the pain. If this symptom is concerning you, it’s always best to get checked by a doctor.
3) Unusual discharge
Changes in vaginal discharge—whether in color, texture, or smell—can be caused by various factors, with thrush being one of the most common culprits.
Typically, healthy discharge is clear or white, has no strong odor, and can vary in consistency depending on the menstrual cycle.
However, if discharge becomes dark yellow, brown, green, or grey, develops a foul or fishy smell, or takes on a chunky, foamy, or itchy texture, it could signal an infection—or, in more concerning cases, cervical cancer.
4) Lower back or pelvic pain
Pain in these areas can stem from an injury or some type of physical trauma—such as a slipped disc or a trapped nerve.
When it comes to back pain, it may also be linked to degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, disc disease, or spinal stenosis.
Many menstruating women report experiencing lower back pain during their periods, and the same is true for pelvic discomfort.
Pelvic pain, however, can have a variety of causes, including urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ovarian cysts, endometriosis, kidney stones, or muscular issues like pelvic floor spasms or a hernia.
Doctors caution that when this type of pain occurs alongside other concerning symptoms, it could potentially signal cancer.
In such cases, the pain is typically the result of a tumor growing and exerting pressure on nearby organs or tissues.