When there’s a change in the cells in the cervix of a woman, it leads to cervical cancer. Cancer hampers the cervix’s deeper tissues and might also spread to the other parts of the body, such as the liver, vagina, lungs, rectum, and bladder. But what causes cervical cancer. Let’s find out? 

Causes of cervical cancer
Cancer, which originates in the cervix cells, is known as cervical cancer. The cervix is the uterus’s lower end and connects with the vagina on the other end. So, what causes cervical cancer? The different strains of HPV or human papillomavirus, i.e., an STI or sexually transmitted infection, have a predominant role in the development of cervical cancer.

Anytime an individual is exposed to human papillomavirus, the immune systems get activated. It restricts the HPV from causing any harm to the individual. However, in some individuals, the HPV survives for many years. When that happens, the cervical cells become cancerous, and that leads to cervical cancer. Thus, HPV is one of the primary causes of cervical cancer.   

It’s important to know that there are 100 different types of HPV, but not all of them cause cancer. There are typically two HPV variants, which cause cervical cancer, i..e, HPV18 and HPV16. Just being infected with HPV’s virulent strain wouldn’t lead to cervical cancer. In most cases, the immune system will fight the virus and free you from infection in two years. 

In addition to cervical cancer, HPV can also lead to other types of diseases, such as: 

• Vaginal cancer
• Vulvar cancer
• Anal cancer
• Penile cancer
• Throat cancer
• Rectal cancer

Risk factors of cervical cancer
Though it is not yet clear as to what are the real causes of cervical cancer, it is true that HPV does have a role in it. However, most people who do have the virus do not develop cancer. Hence, there are many lifestyle choices and other risk factors that may contribute to cervical cancer development. So, these risk factors include: 

• Having more than one sexual partner
  The more partners you have, the higher the risk of being exposed to HPV.
• Engaging in sex earlier in life
  When an individual engages in sex early on in life, the risk of developing human papillomavirus is more.
• Having other STIs
  An individual who already has other STIs, like gonorrhea, chlamydia, AIDS/HIV, and syphilis, is at a higher risk of human papillomavirus.
• Weak immune system
  If you have a weak immune system because of any other health disorder and get HPV, then your risk of HPV developing into cervical cancer is higher.
• Smoking
  Smoking, too, aggravates your chances of developing the cervical cancer of the squamous cell.
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
  Individuals whose mother consumed a prescription for miscarriage prevention, i.e., DES, have a higher risk of developing a particular type of cancer, known as the clear cell adenocarcinoma.