Can Exercise Reduce the Risk of Cervical Cancer?

A new study reports that just 30 minutes of exercise per week has the potential to reduce a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer. In this study, researchers looked at the physical activity levels of 128 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer and 512 women without the disease and found that after adjusting for a history of smoking, alcohol consumption, family history of cervical cancer, and body mass index, the women who did not perform at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per week were nearly 2.5 times more likely to develop cervical cancer than those who did. Senior author Dr. Kirsten Moysich adds, “We think that this study sends a powerful public health message: that a complete lack of exercise is associated with the greater likelihood of developing a serious disease. Our findings show that any amount of exercise can reduce cervical cancer risk.” Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, May 2016