Foul Smelling Vaginal Discharge
Sometimes, cervical cancer may turn into an infection due to lack of oxygen. Some cells may die off and create a foul-smelling vaginal discharge. In some cases, these infections are caused by the body natural bacteria that are residing in the cervix. The lack of oxygen or suppression of the immune system due to the destruction of the body’s defense system makes it a very favorable environment for bacteria and other pathogens to cause infection. Depending on the type of bacterial infection, this discharge can be watery, thick and pale, brown, or mixed with blood.
However, the most common infection is not caused by bacteria, rather a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). This viral infection is the primary risk factor in the majority of cervical cancer cases. It reduces the body strength to defend against invading pathogens and cause inflammation of the cervix. Death of the local cervical tissue causes foul smelling discharge. The discharge of HPV is thick and white in color with the strong charactristic smell.