The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by the human papilloma
virus (HPV). HPV is a group of more than 100 related viruses that can infect cells on the
surface of the skin, genitals, anus, mouth and throat. These viruses are called papilloma
viruses because some of them cause a type of growth called a papilloma, which are more
commonly known as warts. Doctors believe that women must have been infected by HPV
before they will develop cervical cancer.
Different types of HPV cause warts on different parts of the body. Some types cause
common warts on the hands and feet. Other types tend to cause warts on the lips or
tongue. Still other types of HPV may cause warts to appear on or around the genital
organs and in the anal area. These warts may barely be visible or they may be several
inches across. These are known as genital warts or condyloma acuminatum. HPV 6 and
HPV 11 are the 2 types of HPV that cause most cases of genital warts. They are called
low-risk types of HPV because they are seldom linked to cervical cancer.
Certain types of HPV are called high-risk types because they are strongly linked to
cancers, including cancers of the cervix, vulva, and vagina in women, penile cancer in
men, and anal and oral cancer in men and women. In fact, doctors believe that a woman
must be infected by HPV before she develops cervical cancer. The high-risk types
include HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33, and HPV 45, as well as some others. About
two-thirds of all cervical cancers are caused by HPV 16 and 18.
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