Causes and Prevention of Cervical cancer

Causes of the cervical cancer are as follows:

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the major cause of the main types of cervical cancer – squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma;

 If you smoke, you are more likely to develop squamous cell cervical cancer. There are cells in the lining of the cervix called Langerhans cells that specifically help fight against disease. These cells do not work so well in smokers. If you have a high-risk type of HPV infection and smoke, you are twice as likely to have pre-cancerous cells in your cervical screening test, or to get cervical cancer. The Langerhans cells are less able to fight off the virus and protect the cervical cells from the genetic changes that can lead to cancer; 

If you have a weakened immune system, then your risk of many cancers, including cervical cancer, is higher than average. However, if you have had an organ transplant and have regular cervical screening, your risks will be the same as the general population; 

Women who started having sex young or women who have a lot of different sex partners are more likely to get cervical cancer. But really, this is only true because the earlier you start having sex and the more men you have sex with, the more likely you are to pick up an infection with a high risk (cancer causing) human papilloma virus (HPV). And so, then you are more at risk of developing cervical cancer; 

Women who have had children are at an increased risk of squamous cell cervical cancer compared to those who haven't. Women who have had 7 or more children have double the risk of squamous cell cervical cancer compared to women who have had only 1 child. Having your first baby before the age of 17 also gives a higher risk, compared to women who had their first baby after the age of 25.