[basil]

Most of this sounded reasonable until I read this line:

Other facts you need to know about this virus: -Smoking and/or use of hormonal contraceptives may increase the risk of HPV infection in teen girls.

Can someone tell me how smoking can/may increase the risk of HPV?

To me, that's a real stretch.

[Lyantana]

It has to do with what smoking does to the actual blood vessels, making a person more susceptible via the blood stream/blood vessels

[knittnmom]

Don’t know about the contraceptives, but my daughter recently read “Survival of the Sickest”. The chapter on smoking indicates that nicotene interferes with the immune system. It damages cells, and also turns off the “switch” that recognizes a cell is damaged and needs repair. That might be why smoking would increase the risk of other, opportunistic infections/diseases.

[heartwood]

Hormonal contraception and smoking might alter the vagina’s mucous lining, or affect the immune system. Or maybe there is only a correlation, not a causation. She did use the word “may.”

Smoking is a major risk factor for bladder cancer - it does have far-reaching effects.

[Jacquerie]

Teen women who smoke are viewed as easier targets by teen boys.