Causes - Vaginal cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

More than half of all vaginal cancers are caused by an infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

You can get HPV from:

• any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area
• vaginal, anal or oral sex
• sharing sex toys

Who is more likely to get vaginal cancer

You're more likely to get vaginal cancer if:

• you have had an HPV infection
• precancerous cells have been found in your cervix (CIN) or vagina (VAIN)
• you have had cervical cancer
• you are 75 or over – vaginal cancer is more common in older women
• you have lupus, a condition that affects your immune system
• you have HIV or AIDS
• your mother took the hormonal medicine diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant with you – your GP can discuss these risks with you
• you have had womb cancer, especially if you had radiotherapy

Women can still get vaginal cancer even if they've had a hysterectomy.

If you're trans or non-binary and have a vagina, or part of a vagina left from gender surgery, you can also get vaginal cancer, even if you've had a hysterectomy.

How to lower your chance of getting vaginal cancer

You cannot always prevent vaginal cancer.

But as there's a link between vaginal cancer and HPV, cervical screening and HPV vaccination are the best ways to protect yourself.

• All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 are invited for regular cervical screening. It helps find and treat any changes in the cells of the cervix before they turn into cancer.
• All children aged 12 to 13 are offered the HPV vaccine. It helps protect against all cancers caused by HPV, as well as genital warts.

There are some things you can do to lower your chance of getting vaginal cancer.