Although certain studies have demonstrated no association between the stromal cell‑derived factor‑1 (SDF1‑3') G801A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and cervical carcinoma, the interactions between the SDF1‑3' G801A SNP and contraceptive use, menopausal status, parity and tobacco smoking remain to be fully elucidated. Using polymerase chain reaction‑restriction fragment length polymorphism, the distribution of SDF1‑3' G801A genotypes in patients with cervical cancer (n=462) against control groups (n=497) was investigated. Logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, tobacco smoking and menopausal status, did not identify the SDF1‑3' G801A polymorphism as a genetic risk factor for cervical cancer. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for patients with the A/G, vs. G/G genotype was 1.203, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.909‑1.591 (P=0.196). The adjusted OR for the A/A, vs. G/G genotype was 1.296 (95% CI=0.930‑1.807; P=0.125) and for the A/A or A/G, vs. G/G genotype was 1.262 (95% CI=0.964‑1.653; P=0.090)]. The P‑value of the χ2 test of the trend observed for the SDF1‑3' G801A polymorphism was at the borderline of being statistically significant (ptrend=0.0484). Stratified analyses between the distribution of the SDF1‑3' G801A genotypes and cervical cancer risks demonstrated that this polymorphism may be a risk factor for patients with a positive history of tobacco smoking (1.778; 95% CI=1.078‑2.934; P=0.0235). These findings suggested that the SDF1‑3' G801A polymorphism may be a genetic risk factor for cervical cancer in patients with a positive history of tobacco smoking.