The development of cervical cancer has been strongly associated with exposure to the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. Although HPV infection is common, not all HPV infections cause cancer. Researchers are investigating other factors that may work with HPV to cause cancer:

• Young age at first sexual intercourse
• Multiple sexual partners or partners who have had multiple partners
• Smoking
• Compromised immune system functioning, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection