Mild cervical dysplasia can be caused by factors other than HPV
While high-risk HPV is a primary driver, scientific studies demonstrate that factors such as cervicovaginal microbiome dysbiosis, oxidative stress, and concurrent infections like Gardnerella vaginalis also contribute to the development and progression of cervical dysplasia.
The claim states that mild cervical dysplasia can be caused by factors other than HPV. While persistent high-risk HPV is the primary causative agent for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, multiple recent papers point out that other biological factors—such as vaginal microbiome dysbiosis, oxidative stress, and coinfections (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis)—play critical roles in driving inflammation, epithelial barrier compromise, and lesion progression independently or as necessary co-factors. Thus, the literature supports the idea that dysplasia involves multifaceted causes beyond just HPV presence alone.
Knap-Wielgus W, Knap A, Pietrzak B, Suchońska B, Wielgoś M. A Role of the Lower Genital Tract Microbiome in Promoting Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: A Premalignant Precursor of Cervical Cancer-A Literature Review.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18040403
Paper 1 discusses how cervicovaginal microbiome dysbiosis and associated inflammation contribute to the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia alongside or independently of simple viral presence.
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Despot A, Fureš R, Despot AM, Hrgović Z, Gredičak M, Malinac Malojčić S, Ćosić V, Mešić L, Sinković N, Sabol I. HPV Infection and Oxidative Stress in Cervical Carcinogenesis: Linking Apoptosis, Senescence, SASP, and EMT.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15040486
Paper 2 highlights that factors such as oxidative stress, arrested apoptosis, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype play crucial roles in cervical carcinogenesis.
Serafini A, Schiavano GF, De Santi M, De Nictolis M, Brandi G. Prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis in HR HPV-positive women and its association with squamous intraepithelial lesions.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13027-026-00741-y
Paper 3 demonstrates that Gardnerella vaginalis and other alterations in the lower genital tract microbiota are significantly associated with squamous intraepithelial lesions.
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