About 99.7% of cervical cancer cases are caused by persistent genital high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Worldwide, cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women with an estimated 528,000 new cases reported in 2012. Most HPV infections clear spontaneously like any other viral infection but persistent infection with the oncogenic or high-risk types may cause cancer of the oropharynx and anogenital regions.
HPV infection is spread by sexual activity. There are hundreds types of HPV viruses but not all are oncogenic hence we only test for high risk HPV while doing screening. 8 out of 10 females who are sexually active will get HPV infection once in their lifetime but they will not develop cervical cancer unless the infection persists there for years and years. Hence testing the cervix for HPV every 3-5 yearly from the age of 25 to 65 years is advised. Testing HPV will atleast give us an opportunity to check for abnormal cells in cervix and treat them.
