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Vulvar Cancer Causes & Risk Factors |
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While the cause of this rare cancer is unknown, doctors have identified possible risk factors. It's important to keep in mind that having one or more risk factors doesn't mean you are going to develop cancer.
- If you have questions or concerns, ask your physician or schedule a consultation with one of UCSD's gynecologic oncologists.
Possible risk factors include:
- Age: Many women diagnosed with vulvar cancer are in their 70s or older.
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection: HPV is thought to be responsible for most of the vulvar cancers in younger women.
- Vulvar Intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), also called dysplasia
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Lichen sclerosus: This is a disorder than can cause the vulvar skin to become itchy, very thin and subject to lesions and scarring. Although most lichen sclerosus is not precancerous, about 4% of women with this condition develop vulvar cancer.
- Melanoma or atypical moles on nonvulvar skin
- Smoking
Read more about Vulvar Cancer
 Request a Consultation with a UCSD Gynecologic Oncology Specialist Using our Online Form
 Call our New Patient Office at (858) 822-6100, or toll-free (866) 773-2703
Gynecologic Cancer Unit
Moores UCSD Cancer Center
3855 Health Sciences Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093
(866) 773-2703 |