Risk factors for cervical cancer
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
As well as infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), there are other features that are more common in women who develop cervical cancer. These features are called ”risk factors”.
Cervical cancer is not infectious. And unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is not caused by an inherited faulty gene, so other members of your family are not likely to be at risk of developing it.
Other risk factors for cervical cancer include::
- smoking tobacco
- Age - cervical cancer mainly occurs in women over 35 years old and is less common in women under 25. Around 7 out of 10 of cervical cancers are diagnosed in women under 60 years old.
- weakened immune system
- lack of regular Cervical Screening Tests
- taking contraceptive pills for a long time
- previous abnormality or cancer of the cervix
- having many children
- being exposed to diethylstilboestrol (DES).
If you have any of these risk factors or you’re worried about your risk for cervical cancer, yarn with your doctor, nurse or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker.