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Is Cervical Cancer Sensitive to Touch?

Cervical cancer seldom exhibits any signs or symptoms. Once cancerous cells within the cervix have spread to nearby tissue, painful symptoms can occur. The most common is pelvic pain or pain during intercourse, which can be followed in some cases by ongoing pain in the legs or the back. These symptoms do not always indicate that cancer is present. There are also several conditions that exhibit similar symptoms.

  1. Cervical Cancer

    • Cervical cancer is an abnormal cell growth or mass within the lower segment of a woman’s uterus. According to the Mayo Clinic, the sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV) is at least partially responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. A woman’s immune system can usually prevent HPV from causing damage. Symptoms often appear only after the cells on the surface of the cervix have become cancerous. These symptoms can include pain during sexual intercourse and unusual vaginal discharge or bleeding. They are sometimes followed by anemia, rectal bleeding, weight loss, urinary problems, or continuous pain in the pelvis, back or leg.

    Pelvic or Cervical Pain

    • Pain or sensitivity in the pelvis or vagina can indicate that cancerous cells are present, but a similar set of symptoms exists for several other conditions. Vaginitis, cervical cysts and cervicitis all list pelvic or vaginal pain among their symptoms. In each condition, the pain or sensitivity is often accompanied by an abnormal discharge. A Pap test or colposcopy—a microscopic examination of the cervical cells—can determine which, if any, of these conditions are present. Doctors recommend regular Pap screenings even when symptoms are not present.

    Vaginitis

    • The most common reasons women seek medical care are symptoms such as vaginal itching, sensitivity, pain and burning. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) note that these signs are indicative of vaginitis, or the inflammation of the vagina. In addition to the discomfort, a malodorous discharge is often present with vaginitis. The condition is usually caused by a bacterial infection and can be treated with antibiotics. Yeast infections and sexually transmitted disease trichomoniasis are also known to cause vaginitis.

    Cervical Cyst

    • According to Dr. Mary Gallenberg of the Mayo Clinic, noncancerous lumps can form on the cervix. These are called cervical or nabothian cysts. When tissue from the outer part of the cervix grows over tissue on the inner part, mucus becomes trapped and forms these cysts. While they are generally innocuous and painless, they can sometimes grow large enough to cause pain. If the cyst reaches the painful stage or is coupled with unusual discharge or bleeding, Gallenberg suggests having it biopsied to rule out cancer.

    Cervicitis

    • Cervicitis—a condition characterized by a swelling at the end of the uterus—can also cause painful symptoms. According to the NIH, patients with cervicitis experience vaginal pain, pressure or “heaviness” in the pelvis, and painful sexual intercourse. Abnormal discharge, bleeding and inflammation of the vaginal wall might accompany these symptoms. Cervicitis is most often caused by an STD. In some cases, it can be caused by an allergic reaction to contraceptives.

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