HPV
Finding out your partner has HPV on a cervical screening test can sound worrying. Here are some answers to common questions
What is HPV?
HPV is the name of a common virus. It infects the skin and any moist membrane
(mucosa), such as:
- the cervix
- the lining of the mouth and throat
- the vagina, vulva and anus (back passage).
Is HPV common?
At some point during our lives, 8 in 10 people will get HPV.
How is it passed on?
HPV is usually passed on through skin to skin contact including sexual contact, which can make some people feel worried or embarrassed but it is nothing to be ashamed of. HPV lives on our skin so it is easy to get and difficult to completely protect against.
My partners cervical screening test has found HPV do I need an HPV test?
The NHS does not offer an HPV test in this situation
Why is there no test? Do I need treatment?
There is no treatment for HPV itself, but there are treatments for conditions caused by HPV, including genital warts, cervical cell changes and cancer.
Even if HPV were detected, there is no treatment if it is not having any effects. It is very unusual for the HPV types that cause cervical abnormalities to cause problems sexual partners.
In most cases, your immune system gets rid of HPV within 2 years without it causing any problems, but in some cases, HPV may stay in the body for years.
There is no treatment for HPV itself, but there are treatments for conditions caused by HPV, including genital warts, cervical cell changes and cancer.
We’ve been together a long time, has my partner cheated on me and caught HPV?
It’s not possible to tell how long HPV has been present and finding HPV does not prove anything about whether someone has been faithful or not.
Occasionally, HPV that was dormant can become active again and may start to cause cervical cell changes. We don’t know why HPV becomes active again, but cervical screening can help detect the virus and any cell changes early.
They must have caught it recently because the last test was normal
The HPV test is new- the HPV could have been there before. HPV testing only started in 2021.
How could they have got it from me, I haven’t got any symptoms?
HPV usually has no symptoms, which means that many people may have had HPV without knowing. This can sound worrying, but remember that HPV usually goes away by itself, without causing any problems.
More about HPV – Types of HPV
We know of over 200 types of HPV. Each type has a number and different types affect different parts of the body.
HPV types are usually split into:
- low-risk HPV
- high-risk HPV
Low-risk HPV may not cause any problems or cause minor conditions like warts on your hands and feet, and genital warts. Most HPV types are low risk.
High-risk HPV is linked to some cancers. It is important to remember that if you have any type of HPV, including high-risk HPV, your body will usually get rid of it without any problems.
HPV and cancer
About 13 HPV types are linked to cancer. These types are called high-risk HPV.
In people with a penis they can cause cancer in the Skin of the penis
In anyone they can cause cancer in the anus, mouth and throat
In people with a vagina high risk HPV can cause cancer in the cervix, vagina and vulva (area outside the vagina, including the labia and the area between the opening of the vagina and anus).
Having high-risk HPV does not mean you will get cancer. Like other HPV types, in most people even the high-risk HPV goes away without causing any problems.
How do I protect myself from HPV?
Condoms give some protection but as they don’t cover all the skin it can still be passed on. Condoms give good protection from HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea
There are no screening programmes for the cell changes caused by HPV in the vulva, vagina, anus, mouth and throat. This is because it is more difficult to find cell changes. It is important to be aware of the symptoms for these cancers.
Speak to your GP if your genitals or anal area have
- itching that does not stop (persistent itching)-
- enlarging lumps
- pain or bleeding from lumps
- Skin breaks that don’t heal in a few days
