Know the risk factors
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV, which is a common sexually transmitted virus.
HPV may go away on its own, cause genital or skin warts, or cause changes on a woman’s cervix that may lead to cervical cancer.
Other factors that can increase your risk of developing cervical cancer include:
- Having HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or another condition that makes it hard for your body to fight off health problems
- Smoking
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Giving birth to three or more children