Cervical Screening Programme

Risk Factors

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Almost all cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection with one of the cancer-causing (or high-risk) human papillomavirus (HPV) types.

Risk factors for HPV infection or cervical cancer include:

Multiple sexual partners

Multiple sexual partners

Sexual intercourse at an early age

Sexual intercourse at an early age

Co-infection with sexually transmitted diseases

Co-infection with sexually transmitted diseases

Smoking

Smoking

Weakened immunity

Weakened immunity

Long-term use of oral contraceptive pills for more than 5 years ( the risk returns to normal after 10 years of stopping use)

Long-term use of oral contraceptive pills for more than 5 years ( the risk returns to normal after 10 years of stopping use)

High number of childbirths or young age at first pregnancy

High number of childbirths or young age at first pregnancy

Despite the above risk factors, regular cervical screening and timely treatment of the detected pre-cancerous changes can prevent cervical cancer.