Cervical Cancer Causes

Cervical cancer causes are not clearly known. However, medics believe that specific risk factors have a major role to play in causing the disease. Of this, a womans medical history and her lifestyle are the said to have a major role in women developing cervical cancer. The Human PapillomaVirus (HPV) has been cited by medics as the strongest link to cervical cancer causes. Although there are over 150 strains of HPV, only a small number of the strains are linked to cervical cancer. Fifteen of the strains are classified as posing high risk, while three are classified as having a probable risk. Twelve strains are on the other hand classified as low-risk strains. Of all strains, types 16, 18 and 31 present the prime causative factors. To establish whether a woman has the HPV, regular pap smears are recommended especially for women over the age of 30. So far, two HPV vaccines have been developed for use in women who have not contracted HPV as preventive measures.

Having many sexual partners is also believed to be among the cervical cancer causes. Based on studies done on women who have multiple partners against those who have single sexual partners, it has been proven time after time that the former group develops cervical cancer more than the latter. Women with multiple sexual partners also have a higher probability of contracting the HPV, therefore increasing their risk at developing cervical cancer. The argument behind the link between cervical cancer and multiple sexual partners is that HPV is sexually transmitted and hence the more sexual partners that one has, the more exposed she is to the high risk HPV strains.

Tobacco smoking is also mentioned among agents that contribute to cervical cancer causes. The carcinogens contained in tobacco smoke have been cited as risk factors to many forms of cancers. In women, the carcinogens combined with HPV present an even high probability of accelerated cervical dysplasia.

Women who have sex at an early age are also at a higher risk of developing the disease that those who wait until latter in life as those who birth many children. The oral contraceptive has also been cited among the cervical cancer causes. It is the weak immune system that maybe gives women more cause to worry. This is especially in developing countries where the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is common. The HIV virus weakens ones immunity therefore making them prone to developing the cervical cancer.

Other cervical cancer causes cited by the American Cancer Society include dietary factors, the use of the contraception pill, Chlamydia infection, exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) drug, or a cervical cancer family history. Medics state that there is a genetic probability that people with HLA-B7 will develop cervical cancer. Dietary reason arise from researches which indicated that women who consume high levels of vegetables rich in Vitamins A, C and E had lower prevalence of HPV. The intake of Caratonids and folic acid were also found to lower the probability of women being infected with the HPV.