Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is the cancer of the lower part of the womb, i.e. the cervix, which is mostly caused by the presence of a long-lasting high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV infections can be spread via skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity.
HPV is a common virus and almost everyone will get it at some point in time. Out of over 100 HPV strains, around 14 strains can lead to cervical cancer. While our bodies are able to clear HPV infections on their own, high-risk HPV strains such as HPV 16 and HPV 18 may cause a persistent infection which can then lead to cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer progresses slowly and usually takes up to 15 years to develop, which is why it can be detected early with regular screening.