Frequent vaginal births can increase the risk of HPV virus.

 Obstetrics and gynecology specialist, oncology consultant at Dharmais Hospital, Dr. Widyorini Lestari Hanafi, Sp.OG(K)Onk, said that more frequent vaginal births can increase the risk of contracting Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

"Because there is a movement from the cervix opening for birth and then closing again, so maybe it is trauma from the cervix, but that is a natural function in the birth process but it turns out to affect the cells of the cervix, so it is easily infected by HPV," said the doctor who is called Wini in a discussion about cervical cancer in Jakarta, Tuesday.

During normal delivery, the baby will pass through the vagina, cervix, or vulva which may contain the HPV virus. The normal delivery process can also cause abrasions or small wounds in the vagina, which can be a place for the HPV virus to enter the baby's body.