The average age of women with invasive cervical cancer in the United States is between 45 and 50, but the average age of women with carcinoma in situ is between 25 and 35. The difference is attributed to the long latent period of progression of an in situ to an invasive cervical cancer.
The risk factors for pre-invasive cervical cancer (cervical dysplasia) and cervical cancer are the same. Circumcision is no longer believed to lower the risk of cervical carcinoma.
At Significantly Higher Risk
• Suppression of the immune system from corticosteroids, kidney transplants, therapy for other cancers, or
AIDS.
• A history of genital warts.
• A history of herpes simplex virus infection.
• Low socioeconomic status.
• Early age at first intercourse.
• Multiple sexual partners.
• Women whose male partner(s) either have or have had penile warts, have had multiple sexual partners or
