Can you get cervical cancer without HPV infection?

It is possible to get cervical cancer without HPV infection, but the probability is lower. The main high-risk factor for cervical cancer is human papillomavirus infection. Other triggers include long-term smoking, immunosuppression, multiparity or premature childbirth, etc. Regular cervical cancer screening is recommended to detect lesions early.

Human papillomavirus infection is the most common causative factor of cervical cancer, and more than 90% of cases are related to persistent high-risk HPV infection. The virus can be integrated into host cell DNA after being transmitted through sexual contact, causing abnormal proliferation of cervical epithelial cells. It usually takes years to decades from infection to cancer, during which time it may go through stages of precancerous lesions such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Common clinical high-risk types include HPV16 and HPV18, which can be prevented through vaccination.

Non-HPV-related cervical cancer may be caused by long-term chronic inflammatory stimulation, such as repeated cervical erosion or unstandardized treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Certain genetic factors such as BRCA gene mutations may increase the risk of the disease, and such patients tend to develop at a younger age. Environmental factors such as radiation exposure or exposure to chemical carcinogens can also induce cervical squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Such cases usually progress quickly and respond poorly to conventional treatments.

Maintaining regular cervical cancer screening is an effective prevention method. Women over the age of 21 are recommended to undergo cervical cytology examination every 3 years, and women over the age of 30 can be combined with HPV testing. You should pay attention to sexual hygiene and safety on a daily basis, avoid multiple sexual partners, and smokers should quit smoking as soon as possible. When symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge occur, you should seek medical treatment promptly. The diagnosis can be confirmed through colposcopy biopsy. HPV vaccination can prevent more than 70% of cervical cancer, and the best time to vaccinate is before having sex for the first time.