Cervical cancer risk factors
Cervical cancer typically develops over several years and does not show symptoms in its early stages. As a result, many people are unaware they have the disease. While the exact cause of cervical cancer is unknown, we know that being infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection increases the risk of developing the disease, as does exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES).
More than 90 percent of cervical cancers occur in individuals with high-risk strains of HPV. HPV is a commonly sexually transmitted infection, and most individuals with the virus do not develop cancer. You can request an HPV test during your routine gynecologic exam. If diagnosed with high-risk HPV, it’s important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for regular screening, often with a Pap test. This test will check for abnormal cells (also called precancer or dysplasia) on the cervix and can help prevent cervical cancer from developing. If you have high-risk HPV, smoking and long-term use of the birth control pill can further increase your risk of developing cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer can develop from exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in the womb. DES is a synthetic form of estrogen prescribed during pregnancy between 1940 and 1971. If you have been exposed to DES, talk to your doctor about your cervical cancer risk.