Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

| A | | B | | C | | D | | E | | F | | G | | H | | I | | J | | K | | L | | M |
| N | | O | | P | | Q | | R | | S | | T | | U | | V | | W | | X | | Y |

Causes of Cancer of the vagina

It is not known exactly what causes primary vaginal cancer.  However, women whose mothers took the hormonal drug diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy to boost oestrogen levels, (to prevent miscarriage) are at higher risk of developing a rare type of vaginal cancer called clear cell carcinoma.

There may also be a link between human papilloviruses (HPV) and all cancers of the reproductive organs, including the vagina.  HPV can be transmitted through sexual contact.