What is HPV (Human Papillomavirus)?
What is HPV?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus, and is a virus (tiny germ). Usually it is fairly harmless. For example, it causes warts and veruccas on your hands and feet, or ulcers in the mouth, for example.
It is very common, affecting 10% of the population. There is no effective treatment. So it is better to focus on preventing it. That is the focus of this article.
Why does it matter?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection but usually causes no or non-serious symptoms. But. Infection with some types of HPV can cause – some years later – cancer of the neck of the womb (cervix), anus and penis. These cancers take many years to develop after the infection with HPV. Genital warts are also caused by HPV.
Cancers caused by HPV
Sometimes it can cause warts on your genital area too: your penis or vagina. Although these can be unsightly, they’re not painful or harmful. But they are very contagious. You can spread them to sexual partners, or catch them from someone.
HPV vaccination dramatically reduces cervical, anal and penis cancer cases in the future; and leads to fewer cases of genital warts. It may also reduce other cancers thought to be sometimes due to HPV.
Can HPV cause cancer?
Scientists began to realise that people with some types of cancer were more likely to have an HPV infection. They noticed this particularly with cervical cancer, vulval (outside of vagina) cancer, anal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer and penile cancer.
Eventually scientists made the link: in some people, HPV is not harmless … it can cause cancer.
Does everyone infected with human papillomavirus get cancer?
Thankfully not. Only about 1 in 500 people infected with HPV go on to get cancer. But because we’re talking about millions of people with HPV, it leads to thousands of cancers.
Why is there so much attention on cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is the most common of the cancers that are caused by HPV. The others are all quite rare. But cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged under 35 years: there are about 3,000 new cases per year in the UK and sadly about 900 women die from it too (often older women who have not benefited from the vaccine).
It is estimated that HPV causes over 70% of cervical cancer, so if we can prevent young women getting HPV in the first place it should reduce their chances of getting cervical cancer.
How does HPV affect men?
In men, HPV infection can lead to anal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer and penile cancer. Although these cancers are not as common as cervical cancer, they still affect hundreds of men a year in the UK. Preventing men from getting HPV should dramatically reduce the risk of these cancers.
The risk of HPV-related cancer is higher among men who have sex with men (MSM). For this reason, along with a national HPV vaccination programme for 12- to 13-year-olds, there is another national programme for MSM.
You can access HPV vaccination from sexual health or HIV clinics:
- If you are aged 45 or under;
- If you are MSM (assigned male at birth);
- If you are a trans man (assigned female at birth) or trans woman (women who were assigned male at birth).
What is the HPV vaccine?
HPV vaccines were introduced in the UK for girls in 2008, and for boys in 2018. Men who have sex with men (MSM) can also access the HPV vaccine until the age of 45 years. Women are still advised to attend for cervical screening tests, even if they have been vaccinated against HPV.
You need two injections of it (three if you have your first dose over the age of 15). It is really effective, stopping 99% of HPV infections.
There are different strains or types of HPV. Two – 16 and 18 – are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers. Two others – 6 and 11 – account for over 90% of cases of genital warts.
How effective is the HPV vaccine?
A 2021 study looked at rates of cervical cancer before and since the introduction of the HPV vaccination programme. It showed that among women vaccinated at the age of 12-13, rates of cervical cancer were reduced almost tenfold, with 87% lower rates.
The vaccine is effective against most strains.
Other questions
- Do lesbian women still need the HPV vaccine?
Yes! The HPV infection has been found in women who have sex with women: they still benefit from the vaccination - Do gay men still need the HPV vaccine?
Absolutely. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at higher risk of anal cancer - If I have had the HPV vaccine can I still get cervical cancer?
The chances of you getting cervical cancer are much lower, but you can still get it. 30% of cervical cancers are not related to the types of HPV you will be vaccinated against. You should still have cervical smears, which check for the warning signs of cervical cancer.
