One in three women aged 44 to 55 interviewed for the study said they were too embarrassed to talk to their doctor about gynecological cancer for fear of being stigmatized. British charity The Eve Appeal, which conducted the survey, warns of the dangers of not seeing your doctor because of misconceptions about what causes cancer.
Researchers believe that women’s reluctance to go to the doctor for gynecological reasons is due to misconceptions about these cancers. One in five women polled said she believed gynecologic cancers were linked to sex with multiple partners.
Sex with different partners has already been linked to cervical cancer which could be caused by the sexually transmitted disease, human papillomavirus (HPV). But The Eve Appeal has found that HPV is common and can just as easily be contracted even by women who have only one sexual partner.
Even more concerning, the survey showed that women often do not take potential symptoms of gynecologic cancer such as bloating seriously. pelvic pain, and rule changes. Many participants said they attributed these symptoms to normal changes for their age.
“It is amazing that so many women avoid gynecological consultation because they are afraid of being judged on their sexual behavior,” comments Dr Adeola Olaitan, gynecologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. “Early diagnosis of female cancers has been proven to save lives, so it’s important that we start having honest conversations about the signs and symptoms of these diseases in order to fight social taboos and embarrassments that currently exist. “
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