What Are Cervical Cancer Causes?
Although there are no specific cervical cancer causes known there are several factors that may put a woman at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer at some point in her lifetime. The more risk factors that are present the greater the risk of developing cervical cancer.
Two of the most common factors that increase the risk of cervical cancer are medical history and lifestyle particularly sexual proclivities. Human papillomavirus or HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that is thought to seriously increase the risk of developing cervical cancer. This virus is known to infect the genitals, genital tract and area surrounding the anus however not all types of this virus are dangerous and there is now a vaccine to protect against some types of HPV.
There are several factors in relation to sexual history that may increase the chances of developing cervical cancers. These factors may include age, number of partners and exposure. If a woman becomes sexual active at a very young age or has numerous sexual partners it may increase this risk. It may also increase this risk if a woman has sexual encounter with men who had contact with other women that had cervical cancer.
In addition to these factors there are other conditions which may contribute to cervical cancer causes including poverty, eating habits, history of abnormal pap exams and smoking.
When poverty is an issue women may not have the necessary access to receive regular gynecological exams such as pap smears. For this reason when abnormal cells form it goes unnoticed if no symptoms are present.
If a woman does not consume proper amounts of fruit and vegetables it may increase the risk of developing cervical cancer. Smoking may also increase this risk. How much smoking may increase the risk of cervical cancer depends on how long she has been smoking and how much she smokes on a regular basis.
Because most cases of cervical cancer are detected by abnormal pap exams not having these exams can significantly increase the risk of cervical cancer. This is because in many cases these abnormalities are not noticed without the aid of pap exams to detect them.
Women with low immune systems are also at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. This is sometimes found in women who have tested HIV positive or have aids and in some cases in women who take medications to lower the immune system such as those that have had some sort of organ transplant.
In some cases exposure to some chemicals such as those found on farms or in manufacturing plants may also increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.
Although specific cervical cancer causes are not known it is helpful to know the factors that may increase the risk of developing this type of cancer. If you are in any of the increased risk groups you should above all have regular gynecological exams to detect this cancer as early as possible. The earlier cervical cancer is diagnosed and treated the better off you will be.
