What Happens

Cervical cancer happens when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. Cervical cancer can often be successfully treated when it's found early. It is usually found at a very early stage through a Pap test.

If cervical cancer isn't treated, it may spread from the cervix to the vagina, and then into deeper tissue layers of connective tissue around the uterus. As it progresses, it may spread to the pelvic lymph nodes and other pelvic organs. Advanced-stage cancer may spread to lymph nodes; to other organs in the pelvis, causing problems with kidney and bowel function; or to other organs in the body, such as the liver and lungs.

Treatment of cervical cancer depends on the stage of your cancer and if it has spread. To learn more, see Treatment Overview.

What Increases Your Risk

Things that may increase your risk for cervical cancer include:

• Having an ongoing infection with a high-risk type of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is the most common cause of cervical cancer.
• High-risk sexual behaviors. These include having more than one sex partner or having a sex partner who has more than one partner. Safer sex can reduce your risk.
• Having an impaired immune system. For example, women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seem to:³
  • Have higher rates of HPV infection.
  • Be more likely to develop cervical cell changes from HPV.
  • Be more likely to quickly develop cervical cancer from those cell changes.
• Being exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth (prenatal exposure). This is rare.
• Smoking cigarettes or breathing in secondhand smoke.