Previous Section
Introduction to Cervical Cancer
Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer
A risk factor is anything that increases a person's changes for getting a disease or condition. Risk factors for cervical cancer include:
- Persistent HPV infection
- Sexual intercourse at an early age
- Multiple sexual partners
- Long-term use of oral contraceptives
- History of 5 or more pregnancies
- Cigarette smoking
- Low socioeconomic status
- Immunosuppression (such as in transplant recipients or women with HIV)
- Poor nutrition
- Presence of sexually transmitted illness besides HPV (such as Chlamydia, Herpes, or HIV)
