Medical and Health Project

The uterus is an organ of the genital tract of women. It is composed of two parts: the body and neck.

It is within the body of the uterus as the fetus develops after fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon
The cervix is the lower part of the body, it connects the body of the uterus with the vagina and the outside. It comes in the form of a thick-walled cylinder whose lumen is virtual in normal times.

* Part of the cervix is exposed to the vagina is called the ectocervix. The doctor can see through the use of a speculum inserted into the vagina and he dismisses the walls.
* The inner lining of the cervix is called the endocervix, it is hardly visible.

The cervix is a crossing point:

* At the time rules, it lets the menstrual blood flowing to the vagina and the outside;
* After intercourse, the cervix left back in seminal fluid containing sperm into the body of the uterus (and then to the fallopian tubes and ovaries may fertilize an egg).

If the semen is contaminated with germs, they can infect the female genitalia, vagina into the Fallopian tubes through the cervix;
* At the end of pregnancy the cervix is changing, and when the moment of childbirth, it disappears completely to let the baby and allow the birth.

Cancer of the cervix is the development of malignancy within its tissues.
It is a cancer involving a sexually transmitted virus: HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) a particular type “says high risk” (or oncogene).
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are DNA viruses, small size, which specifically infect the skin and mucous membranes. Some types, called “non-oncogenic, induce benign lesions such as warts, papillomas or warts, while types called” oncogenes “are responsible for cervical cancer.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Precancerous lesions that are caused by infection with HPV in the cervix show no clinical sign. They are not painful, do not bleed. There are no signs warning that could make them suspect.

In rare cases, they are visible at speculum examination performed by the physician. When you know that they can lead to development of cancer of the cervix, it should put all the means open to prevent and, if necessary, treated.

When cancer is present, clinical signs will vary depending on the size, nature and stage of evolution of the tumor. The signs may be totally absent, especially in early disease (stages preceding the stage of invasive cancer). Sometimes, cancer of the cervix can occur by spontaneous pain and / or during intercourse. There may be a spontaneous bleeding or injury may bleed for example during sexual intercourse. At the stage of invasive cancer if the tumor is large, they compress the adjacent organs and may show signs with urine or frequent desire to urinate, or difficulty urinating or problems with fecal example, the presence constipation.

• Routine screening for cervical cancer

The diagnosis of precancerous lesions is the Pap smear. In France, the smear is recommended at 2 normal smears 1 year apart, from 20/25 to 1 year and then smear every 3 years and until the age of 65 years (2002 recommendations ANAES ).

It can take a few cells of the cervix to examine under a microscope and determine the presence or absence of suspicious cells. This review, which takes place at a consulting firm to a gynecologist or general practitioner, is not painful.
The results guide the action to take:

* Either the cells are normal and a new smear is to program on schedule as recommended above,
* Either the cells are considered abnormal smear and a new control can be achieved in the first 6 months or a colposcopy may be scheduled immediately to confirm as soon as the diagnosis of cancerous or precancerous lesion.

• The colposcopy and biopsy

If the smear of cells found suspicious, it is proposed that a colposcopy will identify lesions and biopsy directed at the suspected area.

• The endocervical curettage

Endocervical curettage may be performed if the lesion goes back inside the collar and is not seen in its entirety at the colposcopy

• Conization

Sometimes it becomes necessary to perform a cone biopsy, which alone will make the diagnosis. It is to surgically remove a portion of the cervix (cone shaped) for the study, the cervical scrapes will be sent to the pathology laboratory and analyzed under microscope.

Tags: Conization, The colposcopy and biopsy, the ectocervix, The endocervical curettage, the genital tract of women