Cervical cancers are one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women. Almost each type of cervical cancers is caused due to the infection by one of the 12 types of oncogenic human papilloma viruses (HPV). These HPV viruses are sexually transmitted and can cause most of the anal cancers; many vulvar, vaginal and penile cancers; and some oropharyngeal cancers as well along with the cervical cancers. Pap smear tests and HPV tests are designed in such a way that they help in early detection of precancerous and cancerous processes of cervical cancers so as to avoid contracting those cancers.
