Risk Factors

Women with certain risk factors may be more likely to develop cervical cancer. These factors include:

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• Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV): Some types of HPV can cause changes to cells in the cervix. The changes may lead to genital warts, precancerous growths, or cancer.
• Age: The risk of cervical cancer increases with age and most often is diagnosed in women over the age of 40. However, younger women are often diagnosed with precancerous lesions that require treatment to prevent cancer.
• Smoking: Cigarette smoke contains chemicals that damage the body's cells. Smoking increases the risk of precancerous changes in the cervix, especially in women with HPV.
• Sex at an early age: Women who have had sex at an early age have a higher risk of cervical cancer. Researchers are not sure why, but they think HPV may more easily infect a young woman's cervix.
• Number of sexual partners: Women who have had fewer sexual partners have a lower risk of cervical cancer. This is because the more sexual partners a woman has, the greater chance she has of getting HPV.
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): Women who have an STD besides HPV have a higher risk of cervical cancer because the chance of acquiring HPV is also greater.
• Weakened immune system: Women who are HIV positive or take drugs that suppress the immune system, such as women who have undergone organ transplant or take steroids for other reasons, have a higher than average risk of developing cervical cancer.
• Lack of regular Pap tests: Cervical cancer is more common among women who do not have regular Pap tests. The Pap test helps doctors find precancerous cells.In most cases, cervical cancer is treatable or preventable if precancerous changes are caught at an early stage.