Risk factors for pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix

Studies on risk factors for pre-cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix hav e shown strong association with sexual practice. Women with multiple sexual partners and intercourse at early age are at high risk. A role of male par tners in further enhancing the risk has been identified. All these support the hypothesis relating to a sexually transmissible aetiological agent. An extensive review of the literature on the risk factors for pre-cancerous le sions of cervix has been carried out. The risk factors were grouped into ge nital, sexual, chemical, dietary and life factors. Human papilloma virus (H PV) is the major infectious aetiological agent associated with the developm ent of pre-cancerous lesions of cervix, Other co-factors such as multiple s exual partners of the male as well as the female and early age of first int ercourse are also involved at the critical aetiological step of progression from low-grade to high-grade lesions. The role of other infectious agents in terms of supportive or interactive effects is not clear. No independent effect for herpes simplex virus 2 on risk is observed. Other risk factors i nclude cigarette smoking, oral contraceptive usage, certain nutritional def iciencies and poor personal hygiene. However, it is not clear whether these factors operate independently from HPV, There is no consistency in the ind ependent effect of these factors on the development of low- to high-grade l esions of cervix, There is a similarity in the patterns of risk between pre -cancerous lesions of the cervix and cervical cancer. Monogamy, late commen cement of sexual activity, personal hygiene and use of barrier contraceptiv e methods help towards primary prevention. In the long-term, primary preven tion of cervical neoplasia through HPV immunization of population may be a possibility. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.