{"id":99752,"date":"2025-10-22T11:50:44","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T11:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=99752"},"modified":"2025-10-22T11:50:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T11:50:44","slug":"delaying-first-sexual-encounter-could-save-lives-gynaecologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=99752","title":{"rendered":"Delaying first sexual encounter could save lives \u2013 Gynaecologist"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 3 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Obstetrician-gynaecologist Professor Samuel Antwi Oppong has urged girls and women to delay their first sexual encounter and limit their number of sexual partners in a bid to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer a disease he described as both deadly and preventable.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Joy FM\u2019s Super Morning Show<\/strong> on Wednesday, October 22, Prof Oppong revealed that nearly 3,000 women in Ghana are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with almost half dying within 12 months of diagnosis.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn spite of the dire picture or the gloomy picture painted about cervical cancer, every year from January to December, nearly 3,000 women develop the disease and nearly half of them will die from it within a year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He stressed that while the statistics are grim, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in women and that sexual behaviour plays a central role in its prevention.<\/p>\n

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\u201cCervical cancer is a lot easier to prevent than breast cancer,\u201d he noted. \u201cYet more women die from cervical cancer than from breast cancer and that\u2019s largely due to preventable risk factors.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Prof. Oppong explained that cervical cancer is primarily caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. As such, he said, managing sexual activity is a critical part of reducing risk.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe disease is acquired mainly through sexual intercourse. If we reduce our risk of sexual activity, we reduce our chances of developing cervical cancer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He encouraged young girls to delay the age at which they become sexually active, stating that the later one begins sexual activity, the lower the likelihood of contracting HPV.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe older you are when you have your first sexual activity, the less likely your risk of acquiring HPV infection,\u201d Prof Oppong said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He also advised limiting the number of sexual partners, highlighting the difficulty in knowing who might be carrying the virus.<\/p>\n

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\u201cReducing our exposure to different sexual partners is key because you don\u2019t know which of them might be carrying HPV,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While sexual behaviour was a major focus of his message, Prof Oppong also emphasised other protective steps, including:<\/p>\n