Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Out of a total of about 200 different strains of the virus, approximately 30-40 are sexually transmitted. Some of them cause genital warts, while others that are considered high-risk can cause cervical cancer. The virus “attacks” the normal cell, after which its genetic information enters the host cell’s nucleus. There it uses the cell’s mechanisms to reproduce. In some cases, HPV transforms normal cells in the cervix into cancerous ones that start to multiply uncontrollably and don’t die like normal cells do. Cervical cancer usually develops slowly, and regular gynecological examinations can significantly reduce fatal cases among those affected.