Causes of vaginal cancer
The exact causes of vaginal cancer are unknown, but things that may increase your risk of developing it include: being infected with a particularly persistent type of the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can be spread during sex your age – 7 out of every 10 cases of vaginal cancer affect women and anyone with a vagina over 60 a previous history of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) – abnormal cells in the vagina or cervix that can sometimes become cancerous As there is a possible link with HPV, it may be possible to reduce your risk of vaginal cancer by practising safe sex. The HPV vaccination, which is routinely offered to girls who are 12 to 13 years old, provides protection against 2 strains of HPV thought to be responsible for most cases of vaginal and cervical cancer.