The most important risk factor for Cervical Cancer is infection by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV can be spread during sex – including vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse and oral sex. HPV is also passed from one person to another during skin to skin contact. HPV is of 100 types, some of the viruses are classified as:
- High-risk types
- Low-risk types
- High-risk Types: High-risk types do often link to cancer of the cervix. These HPV types include 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, as well as some others. About two-thirds of all Cervical Cancers are caused by HPV 16 and 18.
- Low-risk Types: Still other types of HPV may cause warts on or around the female and male genital organs, and in the anal area. These warts may barely be visible. The medical term for genital warts is condyloma acuminatum. HPV types 6 and 11 cause most cases of genital warts. These two types are seldom linked to Cervical Cancer. Other sexually transmitted HPVs have been linked with genital or anal cancers in both men and women.