Diagnosing vaginal cancer
Screening means testing people for early stages of a disease. This is before they have any symptoms. For screening to be useful the tests:
need to be reliable at picking up cancers
overall must do more good than harm to people taking part
must be something that people are willing to do
Screening tests are not perfect and have some risks. The screening programme should also be good value for money for the NHS.
There is no screening programme for vaginal cancer in the UK at the moment because:
vaginal cancer is rare, so many people would have unnecessary tests
the benefits don't outweigh the costs
The NHS has a screening program for cervical cancer. The cervical screening programme aims to pick up changes early that could develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.
It tests for a virus called (HPV). High risk HPV can cause cervical cells to become abnormal. Virtually all cases of cervical cancer are linked to high risk HPV.
Cervical screening does not screen for vaginal cancer. But when you have cervical screening, your nurse routinely examines your vagina at the same time.
They may pick up changes in the vagina, for example thickening or ulceration. Or pre cancerous conditions such as vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN). Treatment for VAIN helps prevent vaginal cancer from developing.
Find out more about vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN)
Last reviewed: 11 Mar 2024
Next review due: 11 Mar 2027
See your GP if you notice a change that isn't normal for you or if you have any of the possible signs and symptoms of vaginal cancer.
Vaginal cancer is when abnormal cells in the vagina start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
The main symptom of vaginal cancer is bleeding in between your periods or after the menopause.
You have a number of tests to check for vaginal cancer. This includes an examination of your vagina and taking a sample of tissue called biopsies.
Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) means that there are abnormal cells in the inner lining of the vagina.
Vaginal cancer is very rare. It starts in the vagina, which is the passage that leads from the neck of the womb (cervix) to the vulva. Vaginal cancer is more common in older women.
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