11 common causes of cervical cancer in women

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth with the potential to spread or invade to other parts of the body. It is regarded as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. There are more than 100 types of cancer. For women, the most common sites of cancer are colon, breast, lung, stomach, rectum and cervix. In this article, I would like to give you some information about cervical cancer which can be deadly for women though its deaths are steadily declining thanks to preventative measures. There are many factors that lead to cervical cancer that you may not know. Therefore, I will reveal common causes of cervical cancer in women. Hope that it is useful for you.

Common Causes Of Cervical Cancer In Women That You Should Know

Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix and it most commonly occurs in women over 35 years of age. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is among the most common causes of death from cancer in women. It is estimated that at least 200,000 women worldwide die of cervical cancer each year. For this reason, it is important to understand more about this cancer.

There are two main types of cervical cancer: Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma

  • Adenocarcinoma: This type of cervical cancer begins in the column-shaped glandular cells of the cervix. It is more difficult to diagnose and occurs in approximately 10% of cases.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma: This is the most common type of cervical cancer. It occurs in up to 90% of cases. This type of cancer begins in squamous cells which lines the outer part of the cervix.

In the early stages of cervical cancer, there are mostly no signs or symptoms. That is the reason why women should take cervical smear tests regularly. Signs and symptoms of more-advanced cervical cancer may include leg pain, back pain pelvic pain, loss of appetite, heavy vaginal bleeding, fatigue or weight loss. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is considered as the most common sign and symptom of cervical cancer.

Like breast cancer, cervical cancer also has 5 stages ranging from stage 0 to stage 4. These stages indicate the size of the tumor and how far it has spread.

  • Stage 0: There is abnormal cell on the surface layer of the cervix.
  • Stage 1: The cancer is found only in the neck of the womb and uterus of the cervix.
  • Stage 2: The cancer has spread to tissues next to the cervix but has not spread into the pelvic yet.
  • Stage 3: The cancer has reached the surrounding structures of the pelvic area.
  • Stage4: The cancer has spread to beyond the pelvic area (rectum or bladder) or spread further to other parts of the body such as bones, lungs or liver.

Not all of the causes of cervical cancer are known. However, there are some factors that can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer. Here is the list of 11 common causes of cervical cancer in women that you can look for in order to avoid this disease.

1. HPV: 

causes of cervical cancer-hpv

This is the very first out of the most common causes of cervical cancer in women that people need to know so I would like to reveal in the article today.

When it comes to the common cause of cervical cancer in women, HPV is always mentioned firstly.

HPV or human papilloma virus infection is a group of virus that is typically transmitted through sexual contact. There are more than 170 types of HPV, of which 15 types can cause cervical cancer in women. It is estimated that 70% of cases cervical cancer are resulted from HPV types 16 and 18.

HPV are thought to contain genetic material that can be passed into the cells of the cervix and begins to break down the normal workings of the cells. As a result, the cells will reproduce uncontrollably, causing the growth of a cancerous tumor.

2. Birth Control Pills:

causes of cervical cancer-birth control pills

Though  are very helpful in protecting you against ovarian and womb cancers, it is also a common cause of cervical cancer in women. A number of studies indicated that taking some oral contraceptives could increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer compared to those who do not.

Recent research said that for women who take the oral contraceptive pill for more than five years, the risk of developing cervical cancer is almost doubled. However, they also suggested that if you stop taking the pill, the increased risk of cervical cancer will begin to drop.

3. Smoking: 

causes of cervical cancer-smoking

It is believed that smoking, both active and passive, is one of the common causes of cervical cancer in women. It is estimated that 7% of cervical cancer cases in the UK are related to smoking.

Researchers said that women who smoke are twice as likely to develop squamous cell cervical cancer. They have found benzyrene, a cancer causing chemical, from cigarette smoke and they think that this chemical damage the DNA of cervix cells, even contribute to developing this cancer.

Besides, smoking also makes the immune system weaker. Langerhans are cells in the lining of the cervix. These cells help fight against disease. However, Langerhans cannot work well in smokers, making it harder to fight off the virus and protect the cervical cells from changes.

4. First Pregnancy At A Young Age: 

causes of cervical cancer-first pregnancy at a young age

This common cause of cervical cancer in women is often missed out. In fact, women who were younger than 17 years old when they gave their first birth have around double the risk of getting cervical cancer later in life than those had their first baby when they were 25 years or older.

5. Genetics:

causes of cervical cancer-genetics

Genetics are also one of the common causes of cervical cancer that you should not skip. One study claimed that cervical cancer can be passed down among family members. If your mother is diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma, you are almost 2 times more likely to develop cervical cancer, compared to women without a family history.

6. Weakened Immune System:

causes of cervical cancer-weakened immune system

It is true that a weakened immune system can be a common cause of cervical cancer in women. Normally, a healthy immune system protects you from cells that become abnormal by killing it off. Therefore, if you have a weakened immune system, you may have a higher risk of developing many cancers, including cervical cancer. However, if you have regular cervical screening, your risks of getting cervical cancer will be lower. Actually, this is also among the most common and worst causes of cervical cancer in women that I would like to introduce in this article and people should learn and remember to avoid if you do not want to become a victim of this terrible health issue.

7. Multiple Pregnancies: 

causes of cervical cancer-multiple pregnancies

Though the reason is unclear, it is believed that multiple pregnancies are also among the common causes of cervical cancer in women. Those who have had 2 or more children are at an increased risk of squamous cell cervical cancer compared with women who don’t have any children.

8. Food Intake: 

causes of cervical cancer-food intake

You might be surprised but diet also a common cause of cervical cancer in women. Several studies showed that women who are overweight or have a diet devoid of essential nutrients from vegetables and fruit may cope with a higher risk of cervical cancer. This is also one of the most common causes of cervical cancer in women that I want to reveal in this entire article and want you and other women who are reading my article to learn and remember to avoid for good!

9. Chemicals At Work: 

causes of cervical cancer-chemicals at work

Occupation is also blamed as one of the common causes of cervical cancer in women. Tetrachloroethylene is a chemical used in dry cleaning and metal degreasing. If you are exposure to this chemical, you may face a higher risk of getting cervical cancer. It is estimated that around 1 out of 100 cervical cancers in women in the UK are linked with this chemical.

10. Chlamydia Infection:

Another common cause of cervical cancer in women is chlamydia infection. In fact, women who are infected with chlamydia currently or in the past have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.

11. Socio – Economic Status: 

causes of cervical cancer-socio – economic status

This is the last but not least one out of the worst causes of cervical cancer that you and every woman who is visiting this site and reading my article need to know and remember to avoid for good!

Studies in several countries have revealed that socio – economic status is also one of the common causes of cervical cancer in women. Studies have found that women in poor countries have significantly higher rates of cervical cancer compared to those who live in developed countries. Actually, women in developed countries get more regular screening than those in developing countries. That is the reason why there is the different in the risk of getting cervical cancer in women in each country.

One of the risk factors for developing cancer is diet. It is believed that there are some foods that may lead to the higher risk of cancer. Therefore, you should read the Top 11 Cancer Causing Foods To Avoid. In fact, this article is very informative as it reveals all the best details about foods that cause cancer. Hope that you can learn and make use of it to avoid all types of cancer. Additionally, all these foods in this article are natural ingredients so that your overall health can be improved. The information revealed in this article is proven by science so people should read and remember to widen knowledge without worrying about anything.

This article has shown you the list of common causes of cervical cancer in women so that you should learn and make use of. I hope it is helpful for you – the readers of Vkool. If you find this article useful and informative and you do not want to make use of this amazing article alone, feel free to share for everyone.

If you care about the article, we are open to welcome any discussion about the topic. Leave your comments at the end of this post to let us know what you think. We appreciate your contribution and will respond all as soon as possible.

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