Anyone who has a cervix can get cervical cancer.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. Apparently, cervical cancer can still occur in someone who has never had sexual activity.
Kanusha YK, a psychotherapist and relationship expert at Allo Health, says there are many more parts of the body that can support HPV cells. It can start appearing in the anus, mouth, and throat.
“This virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as during oral sex,” Kamusha said, as quoted from Hindustan TimesWednesday (25/1/2023).
There are methods other than sexual penetration to transmit it. Virus HPV has the ability to resist destruction by alcohol-containing disinfectants, heat and drying agents.
Commonly found on medical equipment used in hospitals, upholstery, and textiles such as towels, it can persist in the environment for several days and is an occasional agent of infection. HPV can also cause an infection that usually appears as warts.
However, with the development of cervical cancer, individuals who are not sexually active may develop cervical cancer due to mutations that can occur in certain genes. In addition, smokers have twice the risk of cervical cancer than non-smokers.
Those who use oral contraceptives have a higher risk. Most people who are infected with HPV do not show any symptoms.
They are not aware they have been infected. Many of them have finger infections, and can spread to others. Doctors can discuss specific risk factors and decide on the most appropriate testing strategy.
Similarly, Dr Manjusha Goel, Dept of Obs and Gynae at CK Birla Hospital (R) in Delhai, says anyone who has cervix can get cervical cancer. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina.
Penetration alone does not cause the cancer as it can also spread by skin-to-skin and skin-to-mucosal transmission. He said other causes of cervical cancer include smoking, family history, compromised immune response, HIV, and prolonged use of oral contraceptive pills. Humans can get cervical cancer even if they never have sex, but the possibility is very low.
Another possibility could be oral sex, genital touching, and others, which can cause transmission of the HPV virus outside of sexual activity. Cervical cancer generally begins with abnormal changes in the cells lining the cervix that can easily be detected by tests pap smear.
Other methods of preventing cervical cancer include vaccination against the HPV virus. People who have never engaged in any sexual activity should undergo timely cervical cancer screening and get the same vaccination.
