What are risk factors for vulvar cancer?
The following have been suggested as risk factors for vulvar cancer: • age – of the women who develop vulvar cancer, over 80 percent are over age 50, and half are over age 70 • infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) • human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection • lichen sclerosus – can cause the vulval skin to become very itchy and may slightly increase the possibility of vulvar cancer • melanoma or atypical moles on non-vulvar skin – a family history of melanoma and dysplastic nevi anywhere on the body may increase the risk of vulvar cancer • low socioeconomic status • vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) – there is an increased risk for vulvar cancer in women with VIN, although most cases do not progress to cancer • other genital cancers • smoking
