Vaginal cancer risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Overview

The risk factors of vaginal cancer may include vaginal adenosis, cervical cancer, diethylstilbestrol, human papillomavirus infection, HIV infection, unhealthy lifestyle, and age.

Risk factors

Clinical data has suggested that the development of vaginal cancer is related to several factors.

• Vaginal adenosis:

• Clinical research suggest that having adenosis increases the risk of developing clear cell carcinoma. Although it is very small, many doctors feel that any woman with adenosis should have very careful screening and follow-up.

• Cervical cancer:

• Surveies show having cervical cancer increases the risk of vaginal squamous cell cancer. This is most likely because cervical and vaginal cancers have similar risk factors.

• Diethylstilbestrol (DES):

• Clinical data show women whose mothers took Diethylstilbestrol (DES) develop clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina more often than would normally be expected. These women are called "DES daughters".

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection:

• Certain types of HPV (type 16 and 18) have been strongly associated with vaginal cancers.

• HIV infection:

• Clinical studies show human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) also increases the risk of vaginal cancer.

• Unhealthy lifestyle:

• Epidemiological research demonstrates smoking and alcohol increase the risk of vaginal cancer.

• Age:

• Approximately 85 percent of the cases of vaginal cancer occur in women who are over the age of 40, and nearly 50 percent of cases occur in women age 70 or older..