Forms of HPV, a virus whose different types cause skin warts, genital warts, and other abnormal skin and body surface disorders, have been shown to lead to many of the changes in cervical cells that may eventually lead to cancer. Genetic material that comes from certain forms of HPV has been found in cervical tissues that show cancerous or precancerous changes. In addition, women who have been diagnosed with HPV are more likely to develop a cervical cancer that has genetic material matching the strain of virus that caused the infection. This association with HPV demonstrates a strong link between the virus and cervical cancer. Because HPV can be transmitted by sexual contact, early sexual contact and having multiple sexual partners have been identified as strong risk factors for the development of cervical lesions that may progress to cancer.
Cigarette smoking is another risk factor for the development of cervical cancer.
The chemicals in cigarette smoke interact with the cells of the cervix, causing precancerous changes that may over time progress to cancer. Oral contraceptives may increase the risk for cervical cancer, especially in women who use oral contraceptives for longer than 5 years. As in many cancers, you may have no signs or symptoms of cervical cancer until it has progressed to a dangerous stage. The most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding. This may occur as bleeding from the vagina other than during menstruation or after sexual intercourse.