Q: Are the chances of getting a cancer from an HPV infection increased by smoking?
A: The chances of HPV infections progressing into cancer are increased in women who smoke and in women who are exposed to second-hand smoke.

Q: Does smoking increase the chances of developing HPV-related cancers?
A: Smoking does increase the chances of developing HPV-related cancers. Cancers caused by HPV include cancers of the cervix, anus, rectum, vulva, vagina, penis, and the oropharynx.

Q: What is the association between smoking and HPV infections progressing into cervical cancer?
A: A The association between cigarette smoking and cancer of the cervix is strong. The combination of cigarette smoking and a high risk HPV infection dramatically increases the chance of getting cancer of the cervix.

Q: How much does smoking increase a women’s chances of getting cervical cancer?
A: Women who smoked and are positive for the high-risk HPV16 were 14x more likely to get cervical cancer than women who smoke who were negative for HPV16. Women who did not smoke and were positive for HPV16 had a 6x increase in the risk of cervical cancer when compared to women who did not smoke and were negative for HPV.

Q: What was the conclusion of that study?
A: The study concluded that the increased chance of a woman developing a cervical cancer if she was positive for HPV 16 went from a baseline risk of 6: 1 to 14: 1 and that this increased risk was caused by smoking. The chances of a woman developing cervical cancers decreases after she stops smoking.

Q: Will a woman’s chance of developing cervical cancer decrease if they stop smoking?
A: The association of HPV and smoking is greater in current smokers when compared to former smokers. The risk of developing cervical cancer decreases the longer the period of time that has gone by since the woman last smoked.

Q: Are a woman’s chances of getting cervical cancer related to how much they smoke?
A: There is a greater risk for a woman to develop a cervical cancer who smoke more cigarettes per day compared to women who smoke fewer cigarettes per day.

Q: Does the length of time that a woman smoked influence their chances of getting cervical cancer?
A: The association of HPV and smoking increases with the total number of pack years smoked. The highest risk of cervical cancer were found in women who smoked for at least 5 years, were positive for HPV16 infections and had not yet had their first Pap smear compared to those who smoked for a long period of time and were HPV negative.