Risk Factors
A risk factor is a characteristic, behavior, or condition that raises the possibility of getting a disease. Here are some known risk factors for developing cervical cancer:
Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
Infection with the HPV virus causes most cases of cervical cancer. HPV is a common infection that your body’s immune system can usually fight off on its own. In some women, the infection does not go away and may lead to precancerous changes that could eventually turn into cervical cancer if not treated.
Age
Women over the age of 40 are most likely to develop cervical cancer, but younger women may have precancerous changes (dysplasia) that can turn into cancer.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)/Chlamydia
STDs do not cause cervical cancer directly, but are a predictor for having HPV infection. Women who have chlamydia or another STD are more likely to have also been exposed to HPV, the virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer.
Smoking
Women who smoke cigarettes are approximately two times more likely to get cervical cancer. Harmful substances in cigarettes get absorbed by the bloodstream and may contribute to precancerous changes in the cervix.
Weakened Immune System
A weakened immune system can increase your risk of being infected with HPV or cause precancerous changes to progress to cancer sooner. Some factors that may contribute to a weakened immune system are infection with the HIV virus, organ transplants, and steroid medications.
Young age at first pregnancy
Women who were under the age of 17 at the time of their first pregnancy have double the risk of women who were at least 25. These women are more likely to have been exposed to the HPV virus at earlier ages.
Diet/Obesity
Overweight women and women who eat unhealthy diets low in fruits and vegetables may be at an increased risk for cervical cancer.
Family History
Close relatives (mothers, sisters, daughters) of a woman with cervical cancer are two to three times more likely to develop the disease.
Poverty
Many low-income women do not have access to good medical care and are less likely to get the HPV vaccine as well as regular pap screening exams, which increases their chance of developing cervical cancer because precancerous changes are less likely to be diagnosed and treated.
Sexual Behavior
Intercourse without a barrier method raises the chances of getting an HPV infection and developing cervical cancer.
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
DES is a drug that was commonly used between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriages. Women whose mothers took DES while pregnant are more likely to develop cervical cancer.
