"Vaginal discharge is indeed a phase that occurs in every woman, both when approaching the fertile phase, before menstruation or after menstruation. Their vaginal discharge must have increased slightly," Oni Khonsa said during a health broadcast here on Tuesday.
Vaginal discharge is of several types, which can be gauged from the texture of the liquid, she informed. Normal vaginal discharge is clear, slightly slimy, and does not have an unpleasant odor.
Even though vaginal discharge is a normal thing that every woman experiences, it can also be a symptom of cervical cancer that women should be aware of.
Therefore, women over 21 years of age or those who have had sexual intercourse are advised to routinely get themselves examined at least once every three years at a health facility.
"When vaginal discharge is too much and smells bad, this condition needs to be ascertained. The cervix is in a closed area and we can't see it. So, we have to check the condition of our cervix at least at the public health center (puskesmas)," Khonsa said.
Vaginal discharge caused by cervical cancer is usually characterized by its high volume and muddy texture; the vagina becomes moist or there is an admixture of blood when a woman is not menstruating.
If that happens, the woman is suspected to be entering the lesion or pre-cancerous stage. At a higher stage, apart from vaginal discharge, the symptoms felt by sufferers can include pelvic pain.
"I really advise women to check the health of their cervix even if they don't have symptoms," she said.
"Even if there are no symptoms, we sometimes find signs of pre-cancer and this is actually the momentum we most hope for when we, as doctors, detect cancer risk in a woman. So, we can finish it," she added.
Cervical cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) can be detected through an Acetic Acid Visual Inspection (IVA) or a pap smear, said Khonsa.
At certain stages, sufferers can get radiation therapy or radiotherapy for the treatment of cervical cancer.
Khonsa said she hopes that all women would be more concerned about the condition of their cervix. She also suggested that early detection be carried out en masse on one particular day, for example, Kartini's Day or Indonesia's Independence Day.
Thus, more women infected with HPV can be saved and their cancer can be kept from entering an advanced stage.
"These routine checks really protect women, especially in an archipelagic country like Indonesia, where there are so many of them. Keep in mind that prevention is better than cure. It's the same as COVID-19," she said.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma Shanti, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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