Risks and causes of vulval cancer
This page is about the causes and possible risk factors for cancer of the vulva. There is information about
- A quick guide to what's on this page
- How common is vulval cancer?
- Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
- Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)
- Cervix cell changes (CIN) or cervical cancer
- Weakened immune system
- Genital herpes infection
Risks and causes of vulval cancer
Vulval cancer is a rare cancer in the UK. It is more common in older women and many cases are diagnosed in women aged 65 or over. But around 15 out of 100 cases (15%) are in women under the age of 50.
Human papilloma virus (HPV)
Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is thought to be responsible for about 4 out of every 10 vulval cancers (40%). HPV is passed from one person to another during sexual activity. Around 8 out of 10 people (80%) in the UK have the HPV virus at some time during their lifetime. There are many different types of HPV and some are more likely to lead to vulval cancer than others. Most women who have HPV infection don’t go on to develop vulval cancer.
Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)
Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) means there are changes in the skin cells of the vulva. If you have VIN, there is a risk that it may go on to develop into vulval cancer. Although most cases of VIN will not develop into cancer, it is not possible to tell which ones will and which ones won’t. So everyone with this condition should have treatment, or at least close monitoring of their condition by a doctor. The most common symptom of VIN is a lasting itch that does not get better or go away.
Other things that increase the risk of vulval cancer are a weakened immune system (from HIV or drugs that lower immunity), genital herpes infection, smoking, and some chronic (long term) skin conditions.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the About vulval cancer section.
Vulval cancer is a rare cancer. Around 1,300 cases are diagnosed in the UK each year. Vulval cancer accounts for less than 1 in every 100 cancers diagnosed in women. It is more common in older women and many cases are diagnosed in women aged 65 or over. But around 15 out of every 100 cases (15%) are in women under the age of 50.
Many women with vulval cancer are aged 65 or over. Early stage vulval cancers can occur in young women and they have been seen in women in their 20's. But it is extremely rare to get vulval cancer at such a young age.
A review of published studies showed that human papilloma virus (HPV) is found in about 40 out of every 100 vulval cancers (40%). Some studies show that HPV is found in almost 70 out of 100 vulval cancers (70%). So it is an important factor in the development of some vulval cancers.
HPV is a common infection. It is passed from one person to another during sexual contact. Around 80 out of 100 people (80%) in the UK will have the HPV virus at some time during their lifetime. So it is a very common infection. Even so, more than half of all invasive vulval cancers diagnosed are not related to HPV infection. It is important to know that most women infected with HPV do not go on to develop vulval cancer. For many people the virus causes no harm and goes away without treatment.
There are many different types of HPV and some are more likely to lead to vulval cancer than others. HPV types 6 and 11 can infect the female and male genital organs and the anal area, causing visible genital warts. Women with these types of the virus are not likely to develop vulval cancer but some women do.
Women with HPV types 16, 18 and 31, as well as some others have a higher risk of developing genital and anal cancers. Infection with these types of HPV types does not usually produce any warts or other visible signs until precancerous changes or cancer develop.
The good news is that there is now a vaccine that can protect against HPV infection. So, in the future, we should see a fall in vulval cancer rates. This will take some years to show up because vulval cancer can take such a long time to develop.
Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) means there are precancerous changes in the top layer of the skin (epithelium) covering the vulva. The most common symptom of VIN is a lasting itch that doesn't go away. Areas of skin affected by VIN can look thickened and swollen, and have red, white or dark coloured patches.
VIN is not cancer, but there is a risk that it may go on to develop into vulval cancer, usually over many years. Although most cases of VIN will not develop into cancer, it is not possible to tell which will and which won’t. So everyone with this condition should have treatment, or at least close monitoring of their condition by a doctor.
HPV infection is present in about 8 out of 10 women with VIN (80%).
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). HIV can increase the risk of vulval cancer because it weakens your immune system. So if you have HIV, you are more likely to pick up other infections, such as HPV. In turn, HPV increases your risk of getting precancerous cells in the vulva (vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)).
The risk of vulval cancer is also increased after organ transplant. People who have had organ transplants have to take drugs to suppress their immune system. This is to stop the body rejecting the transplanted organ.
Infection with the genital herpes virus type 2 may increase the risk of vulval cancer. This virus may interact with HPV to cause vulval cancer and other cancers in the genital and anal area. Some studies have shown an increase in risk of vulval cancer in people with genital herpes but one recent study has shown no link. So we need more research to find out whether herpes does increase the risk or not.
Women who have had radiotherapy treatment for a womb cancer have an increased risk of vulval cancer some years later.
Researchers have found a link between vulval cancer and smoking. Being a smoker may mean that you are less able to get rid of the HPV infection from your body. It is also possible that the harmful substances in tobacco damage cells in the vulva and so lead to the development of vulval cancer.
One study has shown that women who do not drink alcohol have a lower risk of vulval cancer than women who drink some alcohol. This may be because of lifestyle factors linked to alcohol consumption and the likelihood of HPV infection.
Some long term vulval skin conditions are associated with vulval cancer. These are
The most common of these is lichen sclerosus. Fewer than 5 in 100 women (5%) with lichen sclerosus or lichen planus develop vulval cancer.
Lichen sclerosus and lichen planus cause long term (chronic) irritation of the skin of the vulva, which may be a possible cause of the increased cancer risk. Paget's disease of the vulva occurs in post menopausal women and is very rare. A small number of women with Paget's disease may develop vulval cancer.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a chronic auto immune disease. The immune system attacks the body’s own connective tissue cells and tissues, causing inflammation and damage. It can affect any part of the body but most often damages the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, or nervous system. People with SLE have an increased risk of vulval cancer.
A study has shown that women have an increased risk of vulval cancer if they have had psoriasis so severe that they needed hospital treatment.
One study has shown that women have an increased risk of vulval cancer if they have a sister or mother diagnosed with cervical cancer or vulval cancer. Women also have an increase risk if they have a father diagnosed with cancer of the airways or the upper part of the digestive system. There is also an increased risk for women with a mother or sister diagnosed with vulval cancer.
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