The causes of cervical cancer are linked to genetic mutations that turn healthy cells in the cervix into abnormal cells that grow at an accelerated rate. While the mutations are really the sole causes of cervical cancers, the factors that create the mutation are many and varied. Infection with certain viruses, smoking, and extensive use of birth control pills have all been linked to increased chances of cervical cancer.
Some research suggests that the presence of cervical cancer is overwhelmingly linked to a common virus known as the human papilloma virus or HPV. A sexually transmitted disease, HPV may cause no symptoms and live dormant and undetected in the body for years. Though most women who have HPV will never develop cancer, there is a high chance that women who do develop cervical cancer are infected with HPV. It remains unclear why HPV is linked to the causes of cervical cancer, but doctors frequently encourage women to undergo testing for the virus if they are unsure of their status.
Since HPV is so closely tied to the causes of cervical cancer, many doctors recommend avoiding lifestyle choices that can increase the risk of viral infection in order to decrease the risk of developing cervical cancer. Women who engage in unprotected sex, begin having sex before adulthood, or have multiple sex partners all have a greater risk of contracting the virus. If a woman contracts HPV, certain factors, such as smoking, having many children, or spending many years on hormonal birth control treatments, may increase the risk of developing HPV-related cervical cancer. Whether these risk factors can actually be considered causes of cervical cancer remains somewhat unclear, but research does seem to show that these behaviors are linked to a higher instance of cancer development in women with HPV.
One of the most rare causes of cervical cancer is fetal exposure to a drug known as diethylstilbestrol or DES. This chemical compound, which is a form of estrogen, was given to some pregnant women throughout most of the 20th century. Female children exposed to DES in the womb may have a greater risk of developing adenocarcinoma, or cancer of the glands in the cervical area. DES-caused cancer is extremely rare, and risk is significantly decreased for young women as the drug is no longer used for pregnant women.
Though the causes of cervical cancer still remain murky to 21st century scientists, many leaps and bounds have been made in screening and prevention options. Many doctors encourage sexually active women to undergo a cervical examination, including a pap smear, once per year. This can help identify any signs of abnormal cellular activity quickly, which can lead to a faster diagnosis and better treatment options. Since HPV is widely considered to be the single greatest risk factor for cervical cancer, younger women are also sometimes encouraged to get an HPV vaccine that can protect them from infection, or undergo testing to find out if an infection already exists.