Doctor: Women with multiple sex partners prone to cervical cancer

Women who have multiple sex partners are at greater risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer, Kunden Deyin, a doctor, has said.

Deyin, who’s also the commissioner of health in Plateau state, made this known on Tuesday, Vanguard reports.

Cervical cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body.

The doctor said females who are sexually active before age 18 are equally prone to cervical cancer.

He said this is because human papilloma virus (HPV) easily infects young women’s cervix due to the premature cells present therein.

“Once mutation occurs, the cell repairing mechanism either repairs the damage or kills the abnormal cell. In rare cases, this cell may proliferate and create more abnormal cells giving rise to cancer.

“This is because most cases of cervical cancer are caused by certain strains of the HPV which spread through sexual contact,” the doctor said.

HPV spreads via unprotected sexual intercourse, he said, as he noted that HPV16 and HPV18 are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

“Women, who have multiple sex partners, are at greater risk of developing cancer of the cervix,” he added.

The doctor advised that females should go for routine pap tests, saying it remains the best way to detect abnormal changes in the cervix before they develop into cancer.