As little as 30 minutes of exercise per week has the potential to significantly reduce a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer, according to a study from scientists at New York’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI).

The study – recently published in the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease – found that women who don’t engage in any physical activity are two-and-a-half times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women who do.

The study included 128 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer and 512 women suspected of having cancer but ultimately not diagnosed with the disease. Physical inactivity was defined as having engaged in fewer than four sessions of physical activity per month.

The reported rates of physical inactivity were 31.1 per cent for women diagnosed with cervical cancer and 26.1 per cent among the control group. The difference in risk remained present even after accounting for potential differences in smoking, alcohol intake, family history of cervical cancer and body mass index.

"We think that this study sends a powerful public health message: that a complete lack of exercise is associated with the greater likelihood of developing a serious disease,” said Kirsten Moysich, PhD, MS, senior author of the study.

“Our findings show that any amount of exercise can reduce cervical cancer risk."

The research highlights the significance of physical activity for women and comes at a time when scientists in the UK are exploring the potential for exercise to be used by the NHS as a treatment for men with prostate cancer. Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University, backed by Cancer Research UK, are carrying out a pilot study which aims to build on previous research that regular exercise leads to better survival rates among men with prostate cancer.

Meanwhile, another piece of research released last week - published online by JAMA Internal Medicine - concluded that regular moderate exercise can help to stave off a further 13 types of cancer, including liver, lung and kidney cancer.