Risks for vulvar cancer

Certain behaviours, substances or conditions can affect your risk, or chance, of developing cancer. Some things increase your risk and some things decrease it. Most cancers are the result of many risks. But sometimes cancer develops in people who don't have any risks.

The risk of developing vulvar cancer increases with age. It happens most often in women older than 70 years of age. But the number of younger women developing vulvar cancer has been increasing. This is because there are now more human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in women younger than 40 years of age, and HPV is one of the risks for vulvar cancer.

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a precancerous condition of the vulva. Some of the things that increase the risk for vulvar cancer may also cause this precancerous condition. It isn't cancer, but can sometimes become vulvar cancer if it isn't treated. Find out more about precancerous conditions of the vulva.

The following can increase your risk for vulvar cancer. There are things you can do to lower your risk and help protect you from developing cancer.

Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV)

Weak immune system

Personal history of vulvar skin conditions

Personal history of cervical, vaginal or anal cancer

The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause warts (called papillomas) on different parts of the body, including the genitals. HPV infections are very common because the virus is easily passed by skin-to-skin contact with any HPV-infected area of the body. It is mainly spread through sexual contact, including oral sex.

Many women who develop vulvar cancer have an HPV infection. This is especially true for younger women who develop this cancer.

But having an HPV infection doesn't mean that you will develop vulvar cancer. Many different types of HPV can infect the vulva. Only some types cause abnormal changes to cells that may turn into cancer.

You can lower your risk of infection by getting vaccinated against HPV and practising safer sex. You should also have regular pelvic exams.

Learn more about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and how to reduce your risk of HPV.

Having a weak immune system (immunosuppression) increases your risk for vulvar cancer. This includes people with HIV or AIDS and people who have had an organ transplant and must take medicines to suppress their immune system.

A weak immune system can lower the body's defences against infection and disease. It can increase the risk for an HPV infection. When the immune system is weak, there is a greater chance that precancerous changes to cells in the vulva will develop into vulvar cancer.

If you have a history of vulvar skin conditions, you have a higher risk for vulvar cancer. These conditions include lichen sclerosus, which is a non-cancerous (benign) condition of the vulva that causes long-term (chronic) inflammation of the skin.

Having a vulvar skin condition can cause damage to the skin of the vulva over the long term. This damage may be what increases the risk for vulvar cancer.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer of the cervix, vagina or anus, you have a higher risk of developing vulvar cancer. This may be because these cancers have similar risks as vulvar cancer, such as an infection with HPV.

Find out more about cervical cancer, vaginal cancer and anal cancer.

The following have been linked with vulvar cancer, but there is not enough evidence to know for sure that they are risks. More research is needed.

• smoking tobacco
• personal history of melanoma skin cancer

To make the decisions that are right for you, ask your doctor questions about risks. Learn how cancer can be prevented and what you can do to reduce your risk.