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Health experts are urging the public to seek medical advice if they notice an unusual or persistent smell, warning it could be an early sign of cancer. Doctors stress that embarrassment should never be a reason to delay getting checked - and it's something that you may tend to notice more when you are getting changed or if you are on the toilet.

The Mayo Clinic says "watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odour" can sometimes indicate cervical cancer and warns that dismissing symptoms may allow the disease to progress and spread.

In its early stages, cervical cancer often causes no symptoms, making awareness especially important. However, as it grows, cervical cancer might cause these signs and symptoms:

• Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.
• Menstrual bleeding that is heavier and lasts longer than usual.
• Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odour
• Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse

Other signs to look out for include pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy. The NHS notes that people with conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis may already experience similar symptoms, but emphasises the importance of monitoring any changes.

It advises: "If you have another condition like fibroids or endometriosis, you may get symptoms like these regularly. You might get used to them. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you."

The NHS explains that cervical cancer can develop anywhere in the cervix - this is the opening between the vagina and the womb. It is most commonly diagnosed in women aged 30 to 35, but can occur at any age.

Nearly all cases are caused by infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). The disease usually develops slowly, and outcomes depend on how advanced it is and a person's overall health.

• Regular check-ups to detect changes early.

• Immunisation to protect against the virus that often causes cancer is key, so stay up-to-date with vaccines

• Practice safe sex

• Don't smoke

• If you do smoke, talk to a health care professional about ways to help you quit

• Surgery is often the first line of defence to physically remove the cancerous tissue.

• Drugs used to kill cancer cells may be another option. Utilising high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells, also known as radiation therapy, could help too. Additionally, integrating radiation treatment with low-dose chemotherapy can enhance effectiveness.

Cervical cancer can affect anyone with a cervix. However, people who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the womb and cervix) cannot develop the disease.

You might also be more likely to get cervical cancer if:

• you have a weakened immune system, like if you have HIV or AIDS
• you have given birth to multiple children or had children at an early age (under 17 years old)
• your mother took the hormonal medicine diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant with you - your GP can discuss these risks with you
• you've had vaginal, vulval, kidney or bladder cancer in the past
• you smoke
• you've taken the contraceptive pill for more than 5 years - this only slightly increases your risk and for many people the benefits of taking it outweigh the risks

• Adenocarcinoma: A type of cancer that starts in the column-like gland cells lining the inside of the cervix.

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This cancer forms in the thin, flat cells on the outside of the cervix. It accounts for the majority of cervical cancer cases.

Experts at the Mayo Clinic note: "Sometimes, both types of cells are involved in cervical cancer. Very rarely, cancer occurs in other cells in the cervix."

Always make an appointment with a GP or other medical professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. For support, please visit Cancer Research UK here.