About HPV
Find out about the different illnesses caused by HPV
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a group of common viruses.
HPV lives in the skin and cells lining the inside of our body. This includes the genital area, mouth, and throat.
Four out of five people will get the virus at some point in their lifetime, if there is no vaccination programme.
This animation provides information for young people about HPV and the immune system.
What illnesses are caused by HPV?
HPV can cause genital warts. This type of HPV does not cause cancer.
HPV can also increase the risk of developing some cancers in later life.
This includes:
- cervical cancer
- some mouth and throat (head and neck) cancers
- some cancers of the anal and genital areas
Symptoms usually show later with an infection with HPV types that lead to cancer.
Body parts affected by cancers caused by HPV
Who is affected by cancers caused by HPV?
Anyone can be affected by cancers caused by HPV.
People of all genders, ages, ethnic and cultural backgrounds are being treated for cancers caused by HPV.
This film provides parents/carers with information about HPV and the HPV vaccine.
How somebody can get HPV?
HPV infection is very common and is nothing to be embarrassed about.
HPV spreads easily by close sexual contact. This includes skin-to-skin touching of the genital areas, as well as sex.
How does somebody know if they have HPV?
Most people do not know they have been infected by HPV because it does not make them feel unwell. It is easy for someone to infect another person without knowing about it.
Even people in long-term relationships can be infected by HPV. This is because the virus can stay hidden in the body for a long time.
In this film Penny shares her experience of having cervical cancer
Treatments for HPV
At the moment there is no cure for HPV. There are treatments available for the effects of HPV, such as genital warts and cervical cancer.
Currently the best way to be protected is by having the HPV vaccine.
In this film Steve shares his story of developing throat cancer caused by HPV.
What tests are available for HPV?
Women and people with a cervix aged 25 years and older get tested for HPV when they have a cervical cancer screening test.
It is still important for women and people with a cervix to have cervical screening even if they have had the HPV vaccine.
There are no tests or screening programme available on the NHS for other cancers caused by HPV. This includes tests for cancers that affect men.
That is because there are currently no reliable tests available.
