Figure 1.

Stages in the development of cervical cancer. Acquisition of human papillomavirus (HPV) occurs via sexual contact. Most infections clear spontaneously, generally within 1 to 2 years. Persistent infections, which can last 10 or more years, lead to high-grade cervical lesions and eventually invasive cervical cancer if left untreated. Low-grade cervical lesions often regress spontaneously, but can also progress to higher grade lesions (pre-cancer) and cancer. Adapted from Burchell AN et al.²⁰