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How can HPV cause Cervical Cancer?

Posted By: UT Medical Center
12/21/2011

Cervical Cancer and Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV, which also causes genital warts, is spread primarily through sexual contact. About half of all sexually active young women become infected with the virus, but only 10% remain infected for more than 5 years.

The risk for cervical cancer is highest for women who have persistent long-term infection with one of the two high-risk strains of HPV. Half of all cervical cancer diagnoses occur in women ages 35 - 55.

HPV Vaccines

Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, are now available to prevent (not treat) cervical cancer in girls and young women. Both vaccines protect against HPV-16 and HPV-18, the two HPV strains that cause most cases of cervical cancer. Gardasil, but not Cervarix, also protects against HPV-6 and HPV-11, the two viruses that cause most cases of genital warts.

Pap Smear Screening

Current guidelines for cervical cancer screening recommend:

• Women up to age 30. Cervical cancer screening should begin at age 21 and be repeated once every 2 years.
• Women ages 30 and older. Cervical cancer screening is recommended once every 2 years. If a woman has had three consecutive negative (normal) Pap tests, she can be screened once every 3 years. After age 65, most women can stop having Pap tests, as long as they have had three negative tests within the past 10 years

HPV Testing

The HPV DNA test is useful for:

• Womenover age 30 for routine testing. Regular HPV testing, along with a Pap smear, is helpful for women ages 30 and older. Routine HPV testing is not helpful for women younger than age 30 because the virus usually goes away on its own.

Women of any age with slightly abnormal Pap test results. For these women, the HPV DNA test can help determine if more tests, or treatment, are needed.


Risk Factors

• Age - Fifty percent of cervical cancer diagnoses occur in women ages 35 - 54, and about 20% occur in women over 65 years of age. The median age of diagnosis is 48 years. About 15% of women develop cervical cancer between the ages of 20 - 30.
• Socioeconomic and Ethnic Factors - Although the rate of cervical cancer has declined among both Caucasian and African-American women over the past decades, it remains much more prevalent in African-Americans -- whose death rates are twice as high as Caucasian women.
• High Sexual Activity -  In adults, the most important risk factor for HPV is sexual activity with an infected person. Women most at risk for cervical cancer are those with a history of multiple sexual partners, sexual intercourse at age 17 years or younger, or both.
• Family History - Women have a higher risk of cervical cancer if they have a first-degree relative (mother, sister) who has had cervical cancer.
• Use of oral contraceptives - Studies have reported a strong association between cervical cancer and long-term use of oral contraception (OC). Women who take birth control pills for more than 5 - 10 years appear to have a much higher risk HPV infection (up to four times higher) than those who do not use OCs.
• Having multiple children - Studies indicate that having many children increases the risk for developing cervical cancer, particularly in women infected with HPV.
• Smoking - Smoking is associated with a higher risk for precancerous changes (dysplasia) in the cervix and for progression to invasive cervical cancer, especially for women infected with HPV.
• Immunosuppression - Women with weak immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, are more susceptible to acquiring HPV. Immunocompromised patients are also at higher risk for having cervical precancer develop rapidly into invasive cancer.
  
  
  To learn more about Cervical Cancer or HPV visit our site. Always speak to your doctor before stopping or starting any medications. If you would like to schedule a doctors appointment, let us help you make one.