What can increase the risk of cervical cancer?

The following factors can increase a woman’s risk of getting HPV or of HPV becoming persistent:

• first sexual activity at an early age
• having more than one sexual partner
• having a partner who has HPV and has had more than one sexual partner
• smoking
• the oral contraceptive pill.

Of the factors that can be linked to increased risk of cervical cell changes and development of cervical cancer, the greatest is smoking.

If you have any of the listed risk factors, regular screening is even more important.

Symptoms of cervical cancer

Abnormal cell changes do not usually cause any symptoms and may be picked up only when a woman has a cervical smear test.  Symptoms may not appear until abnormal cells become cancer.  See your doctor if you have:

• bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
• bleeding or spotting after sexual intercourse
• bleeding or spotting after menstrual periods have stopped (after menopause)
• unusual discharge from your vagina
• persistent pain in your pelvis
• pain during sexual intercourse.

These symptoms can happen for several reasons and rarely mean that you have cervical cancer.  However, they should be checked out.