The risk of vulvar cancer can be reduced by avoiding certain risk factors and by treating pre-cancerous conditions before an invasive cancer develops. These steps cannot guarantee prevention but can greatly reduce your chances of developing vulvar cancer.
Infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) is a vulvar cancer risk factor. HPV is passed from one person to another during skin-to-skin contact with an infected area of the body. Although HPV can be spread during sex including vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, and oral sex sex doesn't have to occur for the infection to spread. All that is needed is skin-to-skin contact with an area of the body infected with HPV. Infection with HPV seems to be able to be spread from one part of the body to another for example, infection may start in the cervix and then spread to the vagina and vulva. The only way to completely prevent anal and genital HPV infection is to never allow another person to have contact with those areas of the body.
HPV infection is common, and in most people the body is able to clear the infection on its own. In some, however, the infection does not go away and becomes chronic. Chronic infection, especially with high-risk HPV types, can eventually cause certain cancers, including vulvar cancer.
In women, HPV infections occur mainly at younger ages and are less common in women over 30. The reason for this is not clear. Certain types of sexual behavior increase a woman's risk of getting a genital HPV infection, such as:
Delaying sex until you are older can help you avoid HPV. It also helps to limit your number of sexual partners and to avoid having sex with someone who has had many other sexual partners. Remember that HPV can be present for years without causing any symptoms. It does not always cause warts or any other symptoms. Someone can have the virus and pass it on without knowing it.
The 2 main factors influencing the risk of genital HPV infection are circumcision and the number of sexual partners. Men who are circumcised (have had the foreskin of the penis removed) have a lower chance of becoming and staying infected with HPV. Men who have not been circumcised are more likely to be infected with HPV and pass it on to their partners. The reasons for this are unclear. It may be that after circumcision the skin on the glans (of the penis) goes through changes that make it more resistant to HPV infection. Another theory is that the surface of the foreskin (which is removed by circumcision) is more easily infected by HPV. Still, circumcision does not completely protect against HPV infection - men who are circumcised can still get HPV and pass it on to their partners. The risk of being infected with HPV is also strongly linked to having many sexual partners (over a man's lifetime).
Condoms ("rubbers") provide some protection against HPV, but they do not completely prevent infection. Men who use condoms are less likely to be infected with HPV and pass it on to their female partners. One study found that when condoms are used correctly every time sex occurs, they can lower the HPV infection rate in women by about 70%. Condoms cannot protect completely because they don't cover every possible HPV-infected area of the body, such as the skin on the genital or anal area. Still, condoms do provide some protection against HPV, and they also protect against HIV and some other sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms (when used by the male partner) also seem to help genital HPV infections clear (go away) faster in both women and men.
Vaccines have been developed to help prevent infection with some types of HPV. Right now, there are 2 HPV vaccines that have been approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Gardasil® and Cervarix®. Both vaccines protect against HPV types 16 and 18, the types that cause most cases of cervical cancer. These 2 types of HPV also cause many cases of vulvar and vaginal cancer. Gardasil also protects against HPV types 6 and 11, the types that cause most cases of genital warts. Both Gardasil and Cervarix work best if given to females before they become sexually active. Both vaccines lower the risk of cervical cancers and pre-cancers, but in studies Gardasil has also been shown to prevent vulvar cancers and pre-cancers caused by HPV 16 and 18. More HPV vaccines are being developed and tested.
Not smoking is another way to lower the risk for vulvar cancer. Women who don't smoke are also less likely to develop a number of other cancers, such as those of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, kidneys, and several other organs.
Pre-cancerous vulvar conditions that are not causing any symptoms can be found through regular gynecologic checkups. It is also important to see your health care provider if any problems come up between checkups. Symptoms such as vulvar itching, rashes, moles, or lumps that don't go away could be caused by vulvar pre-cancer and should be checked out. If VIN is found, treating it may help prevent invasive squamous cell vulvar cancer. Also, some vulvar melanomas can be prevented by removing atypical moles.
Examination of the vulva is done at the same time a woman has a Pap test and pelvic examination. The Pap test is not used to screen for vulvar cancer. The purpose of the Pap test is to find cervical cancers and pre-cancers early. The American Cancer Society recommends these guidelines for the early detection of cervical cancer:
Self-examination of the vulva is also a way to find vulvar cancer early. You can become aware of any changes in the skin of your vulva by examining yourself monthly using a mirror. Look for any areas that are white, darkly pigmented, or red and irritated. You should also note any new growths, nodules, bumps, or ulcers (open sores). Report any of these to a doctor, since they could indicate vulvar cancers or pre-cancerous conditions.