Why does cervical cancer occur more in women?

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women, and it affects nearly 13,000 women and girls each year in the United States alone. There are several factors that may contribute to why cervical cancer occurs more often in women than men.

First, female hormones play a role as they can promote the growth of cells near or on the cervix. Women who have had multiple sexual partners tend to be at higher risk for developing cervical cancer because their immune systems are exposed to more strains of HPV (human papillomavirus), which can cause these cells to grow abnormally and eventually form tumors. Other risk factors include smoking, having an underactive immune system due to HIV or other immunosuppressive drugs, chronic pelvic inflammatory diseases (such as gonorrhea), using birth control pills over extended periods of time, being overweight or obese after age 35 years old, having a family history of cervical cancer and not getting regular Pap smears starting at age 21 years old.

Additionally, low-resource countries with limited access to healthcare services also experience higher incidence rates due in part to lack of methods used for early diagnosis and treatment like Pap smears or HPV vaccines. Fortunately there is evidence suggesting that by increasing awareness about preventive measures such as receiving regular screenings and getting vaccinated against HPV infections can reduce one's risk for this type of cancer significantly.