Alcohol Consumption and Cervical Carcinogenesis: Time to Draw Conclusions

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide and remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality. Alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of several cancers and is a controversial risk factor for developing cervical cancer. This review updates existing information on the correlation between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing cervical cancer. Several comprehensive studies from different geographical regions have shown that moderate and heavy drinking is positively correlated with the development of cervical cancer. There is a synergistic relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) viral load and alcohol use among drinkers with a high HPV viral load. Excessive alcohol consumption and exposure to second-hand smoke may elevate the risk of persistent HPV infection. Furthermore, high-risk behaviors associated with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HPV co-infection are more common among binge drinkers. However, several observations failed to establish a relationship between these factors. Despite some inconsistency in the literature, evidence suggests a modest association between alcohol consumption and increased risk of persistent HPV infection, causing cervical cancer.