Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer

This is the third article in the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide. This guide was developed by the HealthTree Education Team and was last updated and reviewed on June 16, 2026. 

Anything that increases your chance of developing cancer is called a risk factor. Having one or more risk factors does not guarantee you will develop cervical cancer. It is also possible to develop cervical cancer without any known risk factors. Researchers continue to learn about the factors that make cervical cancer more or less likely to develop.

Because HPV infection is the most important cause of cervical cancer, most risk factors for cervical cancer are related to the likelihood of getting HPV or the body's ability to fight it off.

What raises your risk for developing cervical cancer?

• HPV infection. Infection with a high-risk type of HPV is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 together cause about 70 percent of all cervical cancers. HPV is spread through skin-to-skin sexual contact. Most people who are sexually active will have HPV at some point. In most cases the immune system clears the virus, but in some people the infection persists and causes cell changes.
• Not being vaccinated against HPV. The HPV vaccine is highly effective at preventing the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. People who are not vaccinated are at higher risk.
• Not getting regular cervical cancer screening. Regular Pap tests and HPV tests can find cell changes before they become cancer. People who do not get screened regularly are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer at a later stage.
• Smoking. Tobacco smoke contains chemicals that can damage the DNA of cervical cells, making them more likely to become cancerous when HPV is also present. People who smoke are about twice as likely to develop cervical cancer compared to non-smokers.
• Weakened immune system. The immune system normally helps the body fight off HPV. People with a weakened immune system are at much higher risk. This includes people living with HIV and people taking medicines to suppress the immune system after an organ transplant.
• History of chlamydia. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection. Studies have found that women with a history of chlamydia infection have a higher risk of cervical cancer, possibly because the infection causes long-lasting changes in the cervix.
• Having given birth to three or more children. Studies have found that giving birth three or more times is associated with a higher risk of cervical cancer. Researchers are still working to understand why.
• Diethylstilbestrol exposure. Diethylstilbestrol, sometimes called DES, is a medicine that was given to pregnant women between about 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage. Daughters of women who took DES have a higher risk of a rare type of cervical cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma.
• Low income and limited access to health care. People with limited access to regular preventive care, including cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, are diagnosed with cervical cancer at higher rates.
• Age. Cervical cancer most often develops in people between the ages of 35 and 44, but it can occur at any age. Regular screening is recommended starting at age 21.

Factors that may lower your risk

Some factors are associated with a lower risk of cervical cancer:

• Getting the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine is most effective when given before exposure to HPV, typically before becoming sexually active. Vaccination is recommended for preteens, teens, and young adults up to age 26. Some adults ages 27 to 45 may also benefit from vaccination after discussing it with their doctor.
• Getting regular cervical cancer screening. Pap tests and HPV tests can find abnormal cell changes before they become cancer. Following the recommended screening schedule is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of dying from cervical cancer.
• Not smoking. Quitting smoking or never starting reduces your risk of cervical cancer and many other cancers.
• Using condoms. Using condoms consistently during sexual activity reduces the risk of HPV and other sexually transmitted infections. Condoms do not fully eliminate the risk of HPV because HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom.