Does HPV cause cancer?
HPV is necessary for the development of cervical changes, but it does not cause cancer by itself. No one knows for sure what else is needed for cancer to develop. Some factors might be: • unprotected sex at a young age; • smoking; • lowered immune system; • poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C; • stress; • not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control; and • having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia. We do know that poverty is linked to deaths from cervical cancer. Poor nutrition, stress and smoking are all linked with poverty.
