Cervical cancer is one of the few malignant tumors with a clear cause… that is because 99.7% of cervical cancer patients test positive for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are approximately 30 types of HPV that cause infections in the genital organs of both men and women.
No matter which HPV type… they are all scary
However, if we classify HPV according to its danger to the body, it can be divided into 2 types:
- HPV that causes cervical cancer refers to the high-risk HPV types that cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases, mainly HPV types 16 and 18. Other types that may cause cancer include types 33, 35, 39, 40, 43, 45, 51-56, and 58.
- HPV that causes other sexually transmitted infections refers to types that may not cause cervical cancer but cause other sexually transmitted infections such as genital warts, which 90% are caused by HPV types 6 and 11, with a relatively low chance of causing cancer.
In addition, HPV can also cause vaginal cancer. For men who are infected, besides being carriers transmitting the virus to their partners, they are also at risk of anal cancer and penile cancer.
If women have HPV and still smoke… the risk of cervical cancer increases even more
This is because most HPV infections may clear up on their own within 2 years if the body and immune system are strong. However, if there are other risky behaviors such as smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke, the chance of developing cervical cancer is higher than those who are infected but avoid smoking. The virus remains in the body and the disease progresses over about 10-15 years, showing clear symptoms between the ages of 30-60. Knowing this, women should have regular cervical cancer screenings every year to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
