What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on April 04, 2025
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The most common symptom of cervical cancer is contact bleeding, which can manifest as bloody vaginal discharge and bleeding after sexual intercourse, as well as intermittent vaginal bleeding outside of menstrual periods. Additionally, it can present with malignant vaginal discharge, increased vaginal secretion accompanied by an unpleasant odor or foul smell, and sometimes purulent discharge. If the cervical cancer tumor spreads to adjacent organs, such as the bladder or kidneys, symptoms may include frequent urination, urinary urgency, back pain, and swelling of the lower limbs. In advanced stages, symptoms can also include anemia, fever, and weight loss.

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Written by Yan Qiao
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does cervical cancer hurt?

For patients with cervical cancer, the most common clinical manifestations are bleeding during sexual intercourse and irregular vaginal bleeding. Patients who have undergone menopause may also experience irregular vaginal bleeding post-menopause, and some patients may not show any clinical signs at a very early stage. As the cancer progresses, and when it invades nearby organs and metastasizes, it may cause lower abdominal distension and pain, and even more severe pain if the metastatic organs compress nerves or directly invade areas containing nerves.

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Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Causes of cervical cancer

There are several causes of cervical cancer, such as having multiple sexual partners, premature birth, smoking, and early sexual activity, all of which could lead to cervical cancer. However, the main cause of cervical cancer is infection with HPV, the human papillomavirus. It has been scientifically proven that cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection. Therefore, this viral infection is the primary cause of cervical cancer. It is recommended that women of childbearing age undergo cervical cancer screening to check for any abnormalities in the cervix.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Characteristics of Bleeding in Cervical Cancer

The bleeding characteristics of cervical cancer should be considered based on the pathological type and stage of the disease. In the early stages, the bleeding may be contact-related, occurring after sexual intercourse or a gynecological examination, and may involve a small amount of fresh, light bleeding. As the disease progresses into the later stages, the tumor may cause irregular vaginal bleeding. The amount of this irregular bleeding varies, depending on the size of the lesion and the involvement of the blood vessels in the interstitial tissues. A larger lesion may naturally result in more bleeding. In advanced stages, major blood vessels may be affected, potentially leading to severe bleeding. Therefore, the characteristics of vaginal bleeding should be analyzed based on the specific circumstances. If the cancer is exophytic, bleeding tends to occur earlier and is usually more copious, whereas if it is endophytic, bleeding tends to occur later.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Cervical polyp and cervical cancer differences

Cervical polyps are generally visible to the naked eye during a gynecological examination, and after the removal of cervical polyps, there should be no bleeding. Cervical cancer, on the other hand, is different. With cervical cancer, abnormalities can be seen on the surface of the cervix or, even if not visible to the naked eye, can generally be detected through cervical cancer screening. There is no issue with patients with cervical polyps undergoing cervical cancer screening. For patients with cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening typically includes TCT and HPV testing. If these tests show abnormalities, indicating cervical cancer or precancerous lesions, a biopsy is generally required for further diagnosis. There is a difference between the two; after a polyp is removed, there should be no further bleeding; whereas with cervical cancer, continuous bleeding, irregular bleeding, and an accompanying odor can occur.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Causes of cervical cancer

The causes of cervical cancer are particularly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The primary causes that can lead to precancerous lesions and cervical cancer itself, in a minority of cases, do not detect HPV DNA, especially in older patients. Epidemiological studies show that early childbirth and multiple childbirths are highly related to the incidence of cervical cancer; as the number of childbirths increases, the risk of cervical cancer also increases. Smoking can suppress the body's immune function and may promote cancer development. Men who have had penile cancer, prostate cancer, or previous cervical cancer are at high risk; therefore, women who have contact with high-risk men are also more susceptible to cervical cancer.