Causes of cancer of the vulva

 Although the cause of cancer of the vulva is still unknown, research is going on into this condition all the time.

A condition called VIN (vulval intraepithelial neoplasia) can occur in the skin of the vulva. and is linked to infection by some types of wart virus, known as human papilloma virus (HPV).

There are three levels of abnormality – VIN1, VIN2 and VIN3. VIN3 is the most abnormal and in some women can develop into cancer of the vulva if left untreated. Almost one-third of vulval cancers develop in women who have VIN.

There are many different types of HPV. The types most likely to cause VIN are 16, 18 and 31 – known as high-risk types. Other types (6 and 11) can cause genital warts but they rarely lead to cancer and are called low-risk viruses.

CancerBACUP has further information on VIN and HPV.

Women who have certain non-cancerous skin conditions for a long time have an increased risk of developing cancer of the vulva. The conditions, vulval lichen sclerosus and vulval lichen planus, can cause a long-term inflammation of the skin in the vulval area.

Almost two-thirds of vulval cancers occur in women who have lichen sclerosus, but it is important to remember that only a small percentage (1-2%) of women who have lichen sclerosus will go on to develop vulval cancer.

CancerBACUP’s section on  vulval lichen sclerosus and vulval lichen planus has further information.

A rare type of cancer of the vulva called Paget’s disease can sometimes be linked with a cancer elsewhere in the pelvic area or the digestive system.

Cigarette smoking may increase the risk of developing both VIN and vulval cancer. This may be because it can make the immune system work less effectively.

Cancer of the vulva, like other cancers, is not infectious and cannot be passed on to other people.

It is not caused by an inherited faulty gene and so other members of your family are not likely to be at risk of developing it.