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Cervical Cancer Screening
Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors

When it comes to cervical cancer not all women are alike. The number of women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer corresponds with a woman’s age. The average age doctors diagnose invasive cancer is 47 years in the U.S. Women who are 20 to 24 years old are also more at risk for cervical cancer.

Doctors have discovered several risk factors for this disease, including:

• Early sexual engagement.
• History of Multiple sexual partners.
• Relationship with a high-risk partner, including partners with STDs or a history of multiple partners.
• Smoking.
• Women with lowered immune function.
• Women with a history of vaginal squamous dysplasia (precancer of the vagina).
• Women with prior Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

HPV or human papillomavirus is a leading cause of cervical cancer across the globe. HPV infection often results in growth of precancerous and invasive cancerous lesions in women.

Role of Human Papillomaviurs in Cervical Cancer
Researchers have discovered the certain strains of HPV are likely to result in development of cervical neoplasia and resulting cancer in many women. The good news is not all HPV develops into cervical cancer. In fact, few strains of HPV lead to cancer. Most HPV infections are passing, meaning they don’t stick around for too long.