Does Alcohol Cause Cervical Cancer? Learn About Risk Factors – Healthline

Cervical cancer develops within the cells that line your cervix, which is located between the uterus and vaginal wall. While human papillomavirus (HPV) infections remain the most common cause of cervical cancer, other risk factors may also contribute.
Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for cancers more generally, but its direct role in cervical cancer development is less clear.
Read on to learn what the science says about alcohol and cervical cancer, and what you can do to lower your overall risk.
The exact links between alcohol and cervical cancer haven’t yet been established. However, researchers do know that alcohol can play a role in overall cancer development.
Alcohol poses a wide range of possible risks in future cancer development. First, ethanol in alcohol breaks down into a substance called acetaldehyde, which directly damages DNA. This can make your cells more vulnerable to cancer.
Additionally, alcohol can:
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), alcohol use is responsible for about 6 percent of all cancers in the United States, as well as 4 percent of related deaths. In particular, alcohol has been linked to cancers of the:
Alcohol use may also increase your risk of other cancers. As a general rule of thumb, the more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk. Additionally, the ACS notes that when considering breast cancer, even a small amount of alcohol could increase your risk.
While some alcoholic beverages are considered “healthier” than others, the ACS says that the type of alcohol isn’t as important in cancer risk as much as the amount.
In terms of cervical cancer, research has shown that drinking alcohol during cancer treatments could potentially worsen treatment outcome. Heavy drinking may also be associated with cancer recurrence.
While the overall consensus is that no amount of alcohol is safe in terms of cancer prevention, this is a choice you should discuss carefully with a doctor.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends no more than two drinks per day for men and one per day for women. However, if you’re considered at high risk for cancer or other medical conditions, your doctor may recommend avoiding alcohol altogether.
Having certain risk factors for cervical cancer could mean you have a higher chance of developing cancer. This doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop cancer, but identifying and controlling any known risk factors may still help lower such odds.
Besides alcohol consumption, other known risk factors for cervical cancer may include the following:
While some risk factors, such as your genes, are out of your control, you can take action to lower most of the risks for cervical cancer development. Talk with a doctor about the following.
Since HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer, reducing your risk of HPV infections is essential to helping to prevent cervical cancer.
Talk with a doctor about the HPV vaccine, and whether you’re up to date on your shots. The HPV vaccine helps prevent most HPV infections that are linked with cervical cancer.
Your doctor may also recommend regular HPV screenings, particularly if you’re considered at high risk for developing related infections. Identifying and treating HPV infections early may in turn decrease your risk of developing cervical cancer.
You may start screening for HPV at age 25. Your doctor may then recommend regular HPV screening every 5 years until you’re 65. Additionally, you’ll need a Pap test every 3 years.
Keep in mind that an HPV test is separate from a Pap test. While the former checks for cells that indicate an HPV infection, your doctor will use a Pap test to collect cervical cells to check for signs of cancer. You can also ask your doctor for an HPV/Pap co-test for both.
Both smoking and second-hand smoke exposure are known risk factors for the development of many cancers, including those of the cervix. If you smoke, talk with a doctor about how you can quit, and what resources and treatments may help.
Alcohol can also have carcinogenic effects on your DNA that could lead to cancer cell development. While alcohol is linked more clearly to breast, colon, and other cancers, you may consider talking with your doctor about how alcohol could affect your personal risk of cervical cancer, too.
Other lifestyle considerations that could help prevent cervical cancer include:
Cervical cancer is considered a slow-growing cancer, which may develop over the course of several years. Regular screenings can help catch the presence of abnormal cells that may contribute to cancer.
Early stages of cervical cancer are often asymptomatic. Once the cancer spreads, it may cause symptoms such as abnormal bleeding or heavy menstruation.
Yes. The average 5-year survival rate for stage 1 cervical cancer is 91 percent. This makes early detection a critical part of your overall outlook.
The current cervical cancer screening recommendations include:
You may also need to keep getting regular screening after the age of 65 if you’ve had irregular screenings, or if any recent cervical cancer screening came back abnormal.
Yes. Cervical cancer screenings may be available at low or no cost at local clinics or your local health departments. Check out the CDC’s National Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program locator for screening opportunities in your area.
HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer, making vaccination and other preventive measures important in reducing your risk. While alcohol consumption can raise your risk of cancer overall, it’s not considered one of the major risk factors in cervical cancer development.
Still, alcohol itself isn’t completely risk-free. Any amount can potentially damage the DNA in your cells.
If you’re concerned about the role of alcohol in your own risk of developing cervical cancer, you may consider discussing this further with a doctor.
Last medically reviewed on May 11, 2022
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