Studies have found a number of factors that may increase the risk of cervical cancer, infection with HPV (human papillomavirus) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV infection and other risk factors may act together to increase the risk even more:
HPV Infection:
HPV is a group of viruses that can infect the cervix. An HPV infection that doesn't go away can cause cervical cancer in some women. HPV is the cause of nearly all cervical cancers. These viruses are passed from person to person through sexual contact or skin to skin contact.
Most adults have been infected with HPV at some time in their lives, but most infections clear up on their own. Some types of HPV can cause changes to cells in the cervix. If these changes are found early, cervical cancer can be prevented by removing or killing the changed cells before they can become cancer cells. A vaccine for females ages 9 to 26 protects against two types of HPV infection that cause cervical cancer.
Lack of Regular Pap Test:
Cervical cancer is more common among women who don't have regular Pap test s. The Pap test helps doctors find abnormal cells. Removing or killing abnormal cells usually prevents cervical cancer.
Smoking:
Among women who are infected with HPV, smoking cigarettes slightly increases the risk of cervical cancer.
Weakened Immune System:
Infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or taking drugs that suppress the immune system increases the risk of cervical cancer.
Sexual History:
Women who have had many sexual partners have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Also, a woman who has had sex with a man who has had many sexual partners may be at higher risk of developing cervical cancer. In both cases, the risk of developing cervical cancer is higher because these women have a higher risk of HPV infection.
Using Birth Control Pills for a Long Time:
Using birth control pills for a long time (5 or more years) may slightly increase the risk of cervical cancer among women with HPV infection. However, the risk decreases quickly when women stop using birth control pills.
Having Many Children:
Studies suggest that giving birth to many children (5 or more) may slightly increase the risk of cervical cancer among women with HPV infection.
DES (diethylstilbestrol):
DES may increase the risk of a rare form of cervical cancer in daughters exposed to this drug before birth. DES was given to some pregnant women in the United States between about 1940 and 1971. (It is no longer given to pregnant women.)
Who is at highest risk for Cervical cancer ?
Studies have found a number of factors that may increase the risk of cervical cancer, infection with {{ORGANIZATION}} (human papillomavirus) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV infection and other risk factors may act together to increase the risk even more:
HPV Infection:
HPV is a group of viruses that can infect the cervix. An {{ORGANIZATION}} infection that doesn't go away can cause cervical cancer in some women. {{ORGANIZATION}} is the cause of nearly all cervical cancers. These viruses are passed from person to person through sexual contact or skin to skin contact.
Most adults have been infected with {{ORGANIZATION}} at some time in their lives, but most infections clear up on their own. Some types of {{ORGANIZATION}} can cause changes to cells in the cervix. If these changes are found early, cervical cancer can be prevented by removing or killing the changed cells before they can become cancer cells. A vaccine for females ages 9 to 26 protects against two types of {{ORGANIZATION}} infection that cause cervical cancer.
Lack of Regular Pap Test:
Cervical cancer is more common among women who don't have regular Pap test s. The Pap test helps doctors find abnormal cells. Removing or killing abnormal cells usually prevents cervical cancer.
Smoking:
Among women who are infected with {{ORGANIZATION}}, smoking cigarettes slightly increases the risk of cervical cancer.
Weakened Immune System:
Infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or taking drugs that suppress the immune system increases the risk of cervical cancer.
Sexual History:
Women who have had many sexual partners have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Also, a woman who has had sex with a man who has had many sexual partners may be at higher risk of developing cervical cancer. In both cases, the risk of developing cervical cancer is higher because these women have a higher risk of {{ORGANIZATION}} infection.
Using Birth Control Pills for a Long Time:
Using birth control pills for a long time (5 or more years) may slightly increase the risk of cervical cancer among women with {{ORGANIZATION}} infection. However, the risk decreases quickly when women stop using birth control pills.
Having Many Children:
Studies suggest that giving birth to many children (5 or more) may slightly increase the risk of cervical cancer among women with {{ORGANIZATION}} infection.
DES (diethylstilbestrol):
DES may increase the risk of a rare form of cervical cancer in daughters exposed to this drug before birth. DES was given to some pregnant women in the United States between about 1940 and 1971. (It is no longer given to pregnant women.)