The cause of<unk>  is chronic infection of the cervix with HPV, especially infection with high-risk HPV types 16 or 18. It is thought that the high-risk HPV infections have the ability to inactivate tumor suppressor genes such as the p53 gene and the RB gene, thus allowing the infected cells to grow unchecked and accumulate successive mutations, eventually leading to cancer. Some groups of women have been found to be at a higher risk of developing<unk> : * Infection with a high-risk type of HPV, such as 16, 18, 31, or 33 * Immunodeficiency (e.g. HIV infection) * Poor diet * Multiple sex partners * Lack of condom use * Cigarette smoking Additionally, a number of risk factors have been shown to increase an individual's likelihood of developing<unk>  3/carcinoma in situ (see below): * Women who give birth before age 17 * Women who have > 1 full term pregnancies
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Cervical polyp
Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia
Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia
Cervical cancer
Vaginal adenosis
Endometrial polyp
Vaginal cancer