What is the major risk factor for getting cervical cancer?

What is the major risk factor for getting cervical cancer?

What is the major risk factor for getting cervical cancer?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection Infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses. Some of them cause a type of growth called papillomas, which are more commonly known as warts.

How quickly does cervical cancer develop?

It takes 15 to 20 years for cervical cancer to develop in women with normal immune systems. It can take only 5 to 10 years in women with weakened immune systems, such as those with untreated HIV infection.

What percentage of high-risk HPV turns to cancer?

What percentage of high-risk infections become cervical cancers? Only 2% to 4% of high-risk infections lead to clinically significant lesions. The risk is higher, however, if your HPV infection is persistent.

What are the chances of getting cervical cancer from HPV?

About 10% of women with HPV infection on their cervix will develop long-lasting HPV infections that put them at risk for cervical cancer. Similarly, when high-risk HPV lingers and infects the cells of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus, it can cause cell changes called precancers.

Should I worry if I have high-risk HPV?

These abnormal cells can lead to cancer over time. High-risk HPV most often affects cells in the cervix, but it can also cause cancer in the vagina, vulva, anus, penis, mouth, and throat. The good news is most people recover from HPV infections with no health problems at all.

Does everyone with high-risk HPV get cancer?

Most HPV infections don’t cause cancer: Your immune system usually controls HPV infections so they don’t cause cancer. High-risk HPV infections that persist can cause cancer: Sometimes HPV infections are not successfully controlled by your immune system.

How do you get rid of high-risk HPV?

Can HPV go away on its own? HPV can clear up naturally – as there is no cure for the underlying HPV infection, the only way to get rid of HPV is to wait for the immune system to clear the virus naturally.

How do I know if I have high-risk HPV?

The HPV test looks for cervical infection by high-risk types of HPV that are more likely to cause pre-cancers and cancers of the cervix. The test can be done by itself or at the same time as the Pap test (called a co-test) (with the same swab or a second swab), to determine your risk of developing cervical cancer.

What happens if I have high-risk HPV?

High-risk HPV can cause normal cells to become abnormal. These abnormal cells can lead to cancer over time. High-risk HPV most often affects cells in the cervix, but it can also cause cancer in the vagina, vulva, anus, penis, mouth, and throat.

What do I do if I have high-risk HPV?

What’s the treatment for high-risk HPV

  1. Colposcopy — a procedure to look more closely at the cervix to see if there are precancerous cells.
  2. Cryotherapy — a treatment to freeze and remove precancerous cells from the cervix.