Have safe sex, avoid cancer

Indian study finds women at high risk of cervical cancer by having unprotected sex

A new study by the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) has shown that nearly 12 per cent Indian women showed the prevalence of the human papilloma virus (HPV), a pre-cursor infection to cervical cancer. Doctors say that unprotected sex with infected male partners is a major cause.

Doctor speaks
Dr Narendra Malhotra said that over a period of one year, 2693 women were made a part of the study. A Pap smear test (vaginal test) was done on these women and it was found that 11.8 per cent of them were infected.

"There are various types of HPV virus; some of them are dangerous and pose a high risk of cancer, while some of them are not so drastic. We found that around 83 per cent had the high-risk sub-types," said Dr Jaideep Malhotra, vice-president, FOGSI.

The doctors also said that these women had some underlying problems like erosions on skin, vaginal discharge etc.

"While the results of this study can't be applied generally as a rule, it clearly indicates the need for awareness about HPV. It is true that incidents of HPV are on the rise, because women usually refuse the use of condoms with their partners, who are sometimes carriers of the virus," said Pune-based Dr Harshad Parasnis, Chairman, FOGSI's oncology committee.

Dr Narendra said that besides the need for protection, the study emphasises on the need for a vaccination against HPV "It is high time we had a vaccine for HPV."