HPV

In 2000, the Cervical Cancer Consortium Europe was funded by the European Commission to undertake cost-benefit modelling of cervical cancer screening protocols based on new technologies, such as Human Papillomvirus (HPV) testing.

How is HPV transmitted?

Who is at risk of getting HPV?

How can I reduce the risk of becoming infected with HPV?

In summary

What is HPV?  

Human papillomaviruses are a group of small DNA viruses that cause warts, cervical cancer and other anogenital cancers. More than 90 different types have been identified, different types being defined on the basis of differences in their DNA structure (<90% DNA homology). These different types have different tissue localisation and cause different types of lesions. The majority of HPV types infect skin on external areas of the body including the hands, feet, etc. Approximately 40 types target the epithelium of the lower genital tract with about 17 of these having been associated with the development of cervical cancer, the so called high-risk HPV types. The remaining genital HPV types have been designated low-risk as they do not cause cervical cancer.

How is HPV transmitted?

Anybody who has ever been sexually active can have HPV. HPV is transmitted primarily by genital-to-genital sexual contact, anal intercourse and occasionally oral sex. The time from viral exposure to the development of warts or cervical disease is highly variable and the virus can remain latent (suppressed) in some people for long periods of time. It is therefore not possible to determine exactly when or from whom the infection originated.

Who is at risk of getting HPV?

HPV infection is more common in younger, sexually active people, with the peak prevalence in women usually occurring between the ages of 16 and 25. The risk of infection increases with the number of sexual partners and women who have had multiple sexual partners or whose partners have had multiple partners will be at higher risk of being infected. The epidemiology of infection in males has not been evaluated to the same extent but is likely to follow the same pattern as for females.

How can I reduce the risk of becoming infected with HPV?

HPV infections are very common and the majority of infected individuals will have no obvious signs or symptoms. Therefore, it is very difficult to tell whether an individual is infected and the only way to entirely avoid the possibility of being exposed to HPV is abstinence. This is unlikely to be a popular option for most people, although patients should be reminded that it is primarily a sexually transmitted infection and the risk will therefore be reduced by limiting the number of sexual partners and avoiding casual relationships.

While latex condoms offer protection against sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) spread by bodily fluids, such as chlamydia and HIV, they are much less effective against infections that can be spread by genital-to-genital contact such as HPV.

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In summary  

• HPV is a very common virus. Research states that 75% of the world's population (men and women) will come into contact with HPV at some time during their lives
• Your first sexual experience puts you at risk of infection 
• Infection with HPV does NOT imply either infidelity or promiscuity
• HPV infection can reside in the body without causing any problems for many years
• HPV is more commonly known (but misleadingly so in regard to cervical cancer) as the 'wart virus' 
• HPV infection, in itself does not require treatment in a woman or indeed her male partner

A brochure is available to view online in PDF format (178k) from the Royal College of Nursing.  'Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer - the facts'.

Free downloadable materials on HPV and cervical cancer are available from the California Family Health Council's website.

Last Updated: 14 Mar 2008