The
most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by the human
papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is a group of more than 100 related viruses that
can infect cells on the surface of the skin, genitals, anus, mouth and throat.
These viruses are called papilloma viruses because some of them cause a type of
growth called a papilloma, which are more commonly known as warts.
HPV may
cause warts to appear on or around the genital organs and in the anal area.
These warts may barely be visible or they may be several inches across. These
are known as genital warts or condyloma acuminatum. Certain types
of HPV, called high-risk types, are strongly linked to cancers, including
cancers of the cervix, vulva, and vagina in women. The high-risk types include
HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33, and HPV 45. About two-thirds of all cervical
cancers are caused by HPV 16 and 18.
Other
risk factors of causing cervical cancer may include:
- Having sex at an early age and having multiple sexual
partners.
- Women whose mothers had took the drug DES
(diethylstilbestrol) during pregnancy in the early 1960s in order to
prevent miscarriage.
- Weakened immune system (the body's natural defense
system):
- Infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or
taking drugs that suppress the immune system increases the risk of
cervical cancer.
- Lack of the regular Pap tests.
- Smoking. Women who smoke are twice as likely as
non-smokers to get cervical cancer. Tobacco by-products have been
found in the cervical mucus of women who smoke.
Besides
the prime risk factor, there are also some other risk factor which are not so
important, these are called cofactor.
Some
example of the cofactor are Chlamydia infection, stress and
stress-related disorders, hormonal contraception, dietary factors,
multiple pregnancies, early use of oral contraceptives and family
history of cervical cancer.
- Using birth
control pills for a long time:
Using birth control pills in long term may slightly increase increases the risk of cervical cancer among women with HPV infection but the risk decreases quickly as soon as the women stop using the birth control pills. - Having many
children:
Some studies had suggested that giving birth to many children (5 or more) may slightly increase the risk of cervical cancer among women that infected by HPV. - Multiple full
term pregnancies:
Women who have had 3 or more full-term pregnancies have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Women who were younger than 17 years when they had their first full-term pregnancy are almost 2 times more likely to get cervical cancer later in life than women who waited to get pregnant until they were 25 years or older.
- Family history
of cervical cancer:
If a woman’s mother or sister had cervical cancer, her chances of developing the disease are 2 to 3 times higher than if no one in the family had it.