Cancer of the vulva is rare: each year just over 1000 women in the UK are diagnosed with it. Research is going on all the time into the cause of vulval cancer. The following have been identified as things that might increase the risk that people will develop cancer of the vulva:

Human papilloma virus (HPV) This is an infection that can be associated with vulval cancer. HPV is passed between people during sex and there are many different types. Some types, such as types 6 and 11 can cause genital warts, but are not usually associated with the development of cancer. Others are considered more likely to cause cancer and these include HPV types 16, 18 and 31. These types can lead to pre-cancerous changes called VIN.

Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a pre-cancerous condition that can occur in the skin of the vulva, and is linked to HPV infection. 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 it is not treated. Almost one-third of vulval cancers develop in women who have VIN.

Vulval skin conditions Women who have certain non-cancerous skin conditions of the vulva over a long period of time, have a higher risk of developing cancer of the vulva. The conditions are called vulval lichen sclerosus and vulval lichen planus. They can cause 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 1−2% (1–2 in 100) of women who have lichen sclerosus will go on to develop vulval cancer. We can send you information about lichen sclerosus and lichen planus.

Paget's disease This is a rare type of cancer of the vulva which can sometimes be linked with a cancer elsewhere in the pelvic area or the digestive system.

Smoking 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.

Like other cancers, cancer of the vulva is not infectious and can’t 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.