Cervical cancer
What is cervical cancer? Find out how common it is, the causes and expert advice on how to reduce your risk. Plus find out about the HPV vaccine.
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What is cervical cancer?
The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the womb (uterus) which joins to the top end of the vagina. Cervical cancer forms in the cells that line the cervix.
How common is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is the 20th most common cancer in the UK (2021 data), and the 8th most common in the world (2022 data).
Cervical cancer is the 12th most common cancer in women in the UK, and the 4th most common in women globally.
| Region | Cases | Year |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 3,314 | 2021 |
| World | 662,301 | 2022 |
What are the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer?
Common symptoms of cervical cancer include:
- vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you
- changes to vaginal discharge
- pain during sex
- pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
Find more information on cervical cancer symptoms on the NHS website.
What causes cervical cancer?
There are many different things that affect your risk of cervical cancer.
Evidence for what can cause cervical cancer comes from large population studies (called epidemiology) and biological studies (where scientists look at cells in a laboratory).
If the risk factors below affect you, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will develop cervical cancer.
HPV
Virtually all cervical cancers are associated with human papilloma viruses (HPV). However, most women with HPV do not develop cervical cancer. Women become susceptible to cervical cancer following HPV infection, but other factors are required for the cancer to develop.
Life events
Early sexual experience and a high number of sexual partners increase the risk and severity of HPV infection and may be seen as indirect causes of cervical cancer.
Smoking
Smoking tobacco increases the risk of cervical cancer. It is estimated that 2% of deaths from cervical cancer worldwide are attributable to smoking tobacco. The effect of smoking tobacco is independent of viral infection.
Dethylstilboestrol
Dethylstilboestrol (a synthetic oestrogen, now withdrawn) used by women during pregnancy is a cause of cervical cancer in their daughters.
Other risk factors
Our Expert Panel of scientists has also looked at other things that may be linked with the risk of cervical cancer. They found that living with overweight or obesity may increase your risk of cervical cancer. However, the evidence for a link is less strong than the risk factors listed above.
For scientists: full references, pathogenesis and a summary of the mechanisms underpinning our findings on how to prevent cervical cancer can be found in our 2018 Diet and Cancer Report.
Reduce your risk of cervical cancer
The following information is for people in the UK. Other countries may have their own screening and vaccination programmes.
Screening
The best way to understand whether you have HPV and your cervical cancer risk is by attending cervical screening (previously known as a “smear test”) when invited. The NHS cervical screening programme invites all women from the age of 25 to 64 to cervical screening.
If you’re registered with a GP, you’ll get a letter telling you it’s time for your cervical screening appointment. If you don’t want to go to the GP, see if sexual health clinics in your area offer cervical screening.
Going for cervical screening when invited can help find a high-risk HPV infection or changes to cells (abnormal cells) early, before they develop.
Your visit to the GP should take about 15 minutes, with the test itself taking about 3 minutes.
Not only is the screening quick but, importantly, it’s the best way to understand whether you have HPV and what your cervical cancer risk is.
> For more information on cervical screening, visit the NHS website
HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine is available to most people, but it’s only offered free to people of a certain age or in certain situations.
It’s recommended for children aged 12 to 13 years old and people at higher risk from HPV.
> Visit the NHS website for more information on the HPV vaccine
Following our Cancer Prevention Recommendations reduces your risk of cervical cancer and other cancers. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, following our Recommendations can reduce the risk of cancer returning.
Cervical cancer survival
Our Living with cancer section can help if you are living with cervical cancer.
