Cervical cancer
What causes cervical cancer? The most significant cause of cervical cancer is persistent HPV infection (Marth et al. 2017). HPV is very common and most sexually active people come into contact with the virus during their lifetime. In most people, the virus causes no harm and resolves without treatment. Although most types of HPV are harmless, some can cause genital warts and some can cause changes that may develop into cancers, including cervical cancer. HPV is detected in 99% of cervical tumours, particularly subtypes HPV 16 and HPV 18, which are believed to cause 70% of cervical cancer cases.
Long-term infection with a high-risk HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer
Several other risk factors for developing cervical cancer have also been identified. It is important to remember that having a risk factor increases the risk of cancer developing but it does not mean that you will definitely get cancer. Likewise, not having a risk factor does not mean that you definitely won’t get cancer. FACTORS THAT INCREASE RISK
FACTORS THAT DECREASE RISK
Persistent infection with a high-risk HPV
Safer sex using barrier methods to reduce the risk of HPV infection
HIV and AIDS
HPV vaccination to prevent HPV infection
Presence of other sexually transmitted infections alongside HPV
Cervical screening to detect precancerous abnormal cell changes in the cervix
Smoking Use of the contraceptive pill Having children Family history Previous cancer of the vagina, vulva, kidney or urinary tract There are various risk factors associated with developing cervical cancer although each factor may not apply to every woman who develops the disease.
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