Risk Factors

HPV - Infection with the HPV virus is the major cause of the two main types of cervical cancer. The types of this virus that cause warts are not the types that cause cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 are considered 'high risk'.

Nearly all Wwomen who get cervical cancer have had been past infected byions with HPV. The types of HPV which cause cervical cancer As some types of HPV are passed on from one person to another through sexual contact, but they are so common that up to 8 out of 10 women will be infected with HPV at some point in their life.women's sexual behaviour has been seen as a risk factor for cervical cancer.  However, most women infected with these viruses do NOT develop cervical cancer. So other factors must also be needed.

Herpes - Having both herpes and HPV infection nearly doubles the risk of squamous cell cervical cancer and the risk is increased by about 80% 1.8-fold in women with HPV and chlamydia infections. However, it should be remembered that doubling a small risk results in a risk which is still low.

Smoking - Smokers are more likely to develop squamous cell cervical cancer. Researchers have found cancer-causing chemicals (benzyrene) from cigarette smoke in the cervical mucus of women who smoke.

The Pill - Research suggests that the risk of cervical cancer is doubled among women who have taken the contraceptive pill for at least 5 years, but this is still a small risk particularly when it is known that the pill is protective against womb and ovarian cancers. The evidence suggests that the increased risk of cervical cancer begins to drop once the pill is no longer taken.

Children - Women who have had 7 or more children have a greater risk than women with only 1 or 2 children. Having your first baby early, before 17, also increases the risk. There is some evidence that being particularly young when you first have sex can increase the risk, possibly because the cervix is more liable to HPV infection during puberty.