This January as part of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, we explore how to improve your cervical health to prevent cervical cancer, enhance your fertility and improve your overall reproductive health. Quick facts: Understanding cervical health Cervical health refers to the health and functioning of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. To check your cervical health, you need to attend regular cervical screenings, (known as the smear test), and ensure you have your HPV vaccination. Your cervical fluid changes throughout your menstrual cycle and understanding these changes can give you insight into your fertility. Knowing what your cervical fluid looks and feels like throughout your menstrual cycle can help you identify your optimal fertile window (when you’re most likely to get pregnant). Usually, it becomes more slippery, slimy like egg white around ovulation, to help the sperm swim up towards the cervix. Cervical cancer Every year, more than 3,200 people are affected by cervical cancer in the UK. Two women lose their lives to cervical cancer every week and nine more receive a life-changing diagnosis. Despite this, 1 in 3 people don’t attend their smear test. Yet, if it’s caught early, cervical cancer can be treated. Some countries, like Sweden, predict that they will have eliminated cervical cancer by 2030, while the UK aims to eliminate it by 2040. Ensuring that you have your HPV vaccination and also attending your Cervical Screening when you’re invited is the best way to protect against cervical cancer. With the NHS, you should be invited to a smear test every 3 years between the age of 25-49, and every 5 years after that until to turn 64. The frequency may increase depending on if you have any abnormal results. These cervical screenings check the health of your cervix. It’s not a test for cancer, but it’s a test to help prevent cancer. They are crucial in spotting any changes in the cervical cell which could be signs of an infection or cervical cancer.  Cervical cancer often remains undetected because not everyone will always experience symptoms so ensuring your cervical screening is up to date is an important preventative measure.Symptoms like a change in your vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, or during or after sex, unexplained pain in your lower back or pelvis, or pain and discomfort during sex can all indicate cervical infection or cervical cancer. Cervical cancer awareness month Cervical Cancer Awareness Month aims to encourage more people to attend their cervical screening appointment and take their HPV vaccinations, (in case they haven’t already got it) to prevent cervical cancer as well as raise awareness about common signs and symptoms. You know your body better than anyone. Becoming attuned to it will empower you and help you spot anything out of the ordinary.If you notice anything that doesn’t feel normal (symptoms like bleeding between periods, or unusual vaginal discharge, for example) when it comes to your reproductive health, especially if you’re trying to conceive or plan to have a baby in the future, speaking to a healthcare professional and getting the necessary tests early in the process is key. The connection between cervical health and fertility First, let’s talk about the cervix and how it’s related to your fertility.  Your cervix is a narrow, cylinder-shaped passage, this is where all the uterine lining will pass through during your period. It is the mouth of the uterus and connects it to your vagina. When in labour, the cervix is also the part that dilates, so the baby can be delivered, but it’s more than just a passageway. The cervix plays a key role in conception. When you ovulate, your cervical fluid (sometimes called cervical mucus) becomes watery to help transport the sperm from the vagina towards the cervix and to the egg to become fertilised (the first step of conception). Your cervical health can affect your fertility in various ways. Infections, cervical cancer and structural abnormalities can lead to your cervix not functioning properly. Without the cervical fluid that helps to transport the sperm, and the protective barrier your cervical fluid creates during pregnancy, a poorly functioning cervix could have led to complications. After ovulation, your cervical fluid becomes sticky and thick, acting like a barrier to the sperm. If this happens around the time of ovulation, it could inhibit sperm from reaching the egg, preventing fertilisation and conception. If you do become pregnant, poor cervical health can cause miscarriage or preterm labour. Infections of the cervix, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can negatively impact fertility. Infections cause inflammation and scarring of the cervix, which can affect its normal function and increase the risk of infertility. Common cervical health issues affecting fertility Cervical infections can affect fertility Infections of the cervix, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can negatively impact fertility. Infections cause inflammation and scarring of the cervix, which can affect its normal function and increase the risk of infertility. Cervical polyps can affect fertility Cervical polyps are growths that can develop on the cervix. Polyps are usually (benign) harmless and do not often cause any symptoms, but they can sometimes cause fertility issues, or increase the risk of miscarriage.  Once found, the treatment is usually to remove them. The process of removal depends on the size, type, location, visibility and number of polyps. Cervical dysplasia can affect fertility Cervical dysplasia is a cervical condition in which abnormal cells grow on the surface of your cervix. Cervical dysplasia (also known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or CIN) is not cancer but if left untreated, it can develop into cervical cancer and affect fertility. Early detection and treatment is key. Cervical dysplasia is often termed “precancerous”, which can sound scary, but if you get timely treatment, most people who get it do not get cancer. If you have abnormal cells from your screening test, you may be invited to have a colposcopy test to look closer at your cervix. The treatment you need for abnormal cervical cell changes […]