Risk factors and causes of cervical cancer

Many women are aware that having sex at an early age and having several sexual partners can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.

It’s important to remember that although these factors can increase the chances of catching the HPV virus| , many women who have only had one sexual partner have HPV, and may go on to develop CIN| or cervical cancer. So there’s no reason for yourself or others to feel that you’re to blame for having cervical cancer.

Remember that men also carry HPV, but the health risk to them is much less than that in women. And most HPV infections in men don’t cause symptoms.

A weakened immune system may also allow CIN to develop into a cancer. The immune system can be weakened by smoking, poor diet, and infections such as HIV/AIDS.

Long-term use of the contraceptive pill (more than 10 years) can slightly increase the risk of developing cervical cancer, but the benefits of taking the pill outweigh the risks for most women.

Cancer of the cervix is not infectious and can’t be passed on to other people.

Preventing cervical cancer

Having routine smear tests|  can reduce the risk of cervical cancer, as early changes in the cells of the cervix are picked up.