Risk Factors

HPV - Infection with the HPV virus is found in between 3 and 7 out of every 10 vulval cancers (30 to 70%) and in most cases of VIN. Even so, a significant proportion of all invasive vulval cancers diagnosed are not related to HPV infection.

Organ transplant - The risk of vulval cancer is also increased after an organ transplant as people who have had organ a transplants have to take drugs to suppress their immune system.

Herpes - Infection with the genital herpes virus type 2 increases the risk of vulval cancer.� This virus may 'interact' with HPV to cause vulval cancer and other cancers in the genital and anal area.

Smoking - Researchers have found a link between vulval cancer and smoking.

Skin conditions - Some long-term skin conditions are associated with vulval cancer. These are lichen sclerosus, lichen planus and Paget's disease. Although the most common of these is lichen sclerosus, fewer than 5 in 100 women (5%)with lichen sclerosus develop vulval cancer.

VIN - Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) means there are precancerous changes in the skin cells of the vulva. It is not cancer, but there is a risk that it may go on to develop into vulval cancer, usually over many years. Not all women who have VIN or dysplasia will develop vulval cancer. Vulval cancer can be prevented by treating VIN when appropriate.

Melanoma - The presence of many unusual-looking moles or a close relative who has had malignant melanoma is an indication of increased risk of vulval melanoma. This disease is extremely rare.

Psoriasis - A study has shown that women have an increased risk of vulval cancer if they have had psoriasis (a skin condition) so severely that they needed hospital treatment.

Family - Women may have an increased risk of vulval cancer if they have a sister or mother diagnosed with cervical cancer, or a father diagnosed with cancer of the airways or upper part of the digestive system. However the increase in risk is small (around twofold), and it should be remembered that doubling a small risk results in a risk which is still low.