Q. Is cervical cancer only caused by HPV?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
No, cervical cancer is not only caused by HPV. There are other known risk factors and causes of cervical cancer such as smoking, having multiple sexual partners and a weakened immune system due to HIV. In addition to HPV, certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) have been linked to an increased risk for developing cervical cancer. This includes types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39 ,45 ,52 and 58 which account for roughly 70% of all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. Other factors that increase the chance for developing this type of cancer include early sexual intercourse or pregnancy before age 17; not getting regular Pap tests; giving birth multiple times (a woman who has given birth more than five times has double the risk); taking oral contraceptives over 5 years; having multiple full-term pregnancies after age 30; being overweight or obese; and exposure to environmental toxins like arsenic from drinking water supplies in some parts of the world.