The female pelvic area contains a number of organs and structures: the endometrium, uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina, and vulva.
Vaginal cancer starts in the cells of your vagina, also known as the birth canal. The most common type of vaginal cancer develops over many years.
Cancer of the vagina is rare. Certain factors thought to raise the risk for this type of cancer include advancing age, history of cervical cancer, and infection with the human papillomavirus.
Vaginal cancer often causes no symptoms in the early stages, before cancer has spread. Symptoms may appear in later stages.