Causes and risk factors of vaginal cancer
What are risk factors?
Certain things called risk factors may increase the risk of developing vaginal cancer. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get cancer. And not having a risk factor does not mean that you will not get it.
Like other cancers, vaginal cancer is not infectious. You cannot catch it or pass it on to other people.
Age
Vaginal cancer is more common in women over the age of 60.
HPV (human papilloma virus)
A weakened immune system
Your immune system helps protect your body from infection and illness. If the immune system is not working well, it is less likely to get rid of infections like HPV.
Vaginal intra-epithelial neoplasia (VAIN)
VAIN is the name for pre-cancerous changes in cells lining the vagina. It can develop if HPV remains in the vagina for a long time.
If VAIN is not treated, it may develop into vaginal cancer in a small number of women.