What are the risk factors for developing cervical cancer?

According to the National Cancer Institute, strong risk factors include early age at first intercourse, a history of multiple sexual partners, genital human papillomavirus infection (HPV) or other sexually transmitted disease (STD), and the presence or history of other genital tract abnormalities. Women age 60 and above are at greater risk for cervical cancer than are women in other age groups because these older women are less willing or able to seek medical care for early screening. One reason that many of these women do not get screened for cervical cancer is that they often don't view themselves as being at risk. Other risk factors include active or passive ("second-hand") smoking, poor nutrition, and a current or past sexual partner with risk factors for STDs, or HIV/AIDS.