Cervical Screening Awareness Week: Women ‘not warned’ about side effects of removing pre-cancerous cells
Tens of thousands of women who have abnormal cells removed to reduce their risk of cervical cancer are left unprepared for the potential side effects, a charity has warned.
One in five women surveyed by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said they were not told they could experience pelvic pain, bleeding and loss of libido.
Being clear about these issues could make a big difference for the roughly 220,000 women who have potentially cancerous cells identified during routine smear tests in the UK each year.
Out of the 1,622 women surveyed, 86 per cent experienced bleeding or spotting following treatment but just 15 per cent recognised this as a side effect.
Meanwhile, despite nearly half (46 per cent) losing their sex drive, only 9 per cent had been warned of this ahead of treatment. In some cases, the survey found that this led to loss of body confidence and feelings of sexual dissociation.
The women surveyed also reported psychological side effects, with 71 per cent experiencing anxiety despite just 6 per cent of women being told this was a possibility. Additionally, nearly one in four women (24 per cent) said they experienced depression following treatment.
The survey found that many women who experienced side effects also did not seek support, either reporting embarrassment or not wanting to bother anyone.
But the charity said it was reassuring that only 4 per cent of women said they wished they had not received treatment, despite the side effects.
While not all abnormal cells will become cancerous, removing them early is highly effective and the procedure takes a few minutes under local anaesthetic.
Treatment for abnormal cells depends on your cervical screening test result. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove the area of tissue with the abnormal cells using a treatment known as loop diathermy. Occasionally, laser therapy to destroy abnormal cells is needed.
In light of the findings, the charity is urging for standardised information about potential side effects of these procedures.
Rebecca Shoosmith, head of support services at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “While treatment for cell changes remains highly effective, we must start to see it as more than just a simple procedure and acknowledge the impact diagnosis and treatment can have on women.
“There has been lots of focus on the needs of those attending screening, and of those with a cancer diagnosis, but this is a group who have previously been overlooked. Better information provision and support for those having treatment is essential.”
