HPV and the HPV vaccine

HPV can pass between people through intimate skin contact, including sex without penetration. It is a very common group of viruses, and most infections clear without treatment. Some types can cause genital warts; others are linked to cancer.

Finding out about HPV can bring questions about your relationships as well as your health. The virus can be present for years, including when someone has not had sex or a new partner for a long time. Finding HPV cannot tell you when you caught it.

What HPV can do

High-risk HPV types are linked to cervical cancer and cancers of the anus, penis, vulva and vagina, as well as some head and neck cancers. Most people with HPV have no symptoms. Persistent infection can lead to changes in cervical cells, which may develop into cancer if left untreated.

There is no treatment that removes the HPV infection itself. There are treatments for problems it causes, including genital warts and changes to cervical cells. Prevention and screening still matter, as does follow-up, even though many infections clear on their own.

What the vaccine prevents

The vaccine helps prevent infection with HPV types responsible for many HPV-related cancers and genital warts. It does not cover every type. It is a preventive vaccine, so it does not clear an infection you already have or treat existing HPV-related disease.

Vaccination is offered before likely exposure to HPV. CDC guidance says the vaccine may still protect against other HPV types even if you have already had one type. If you missed vaccination, ask whether you are eligible. Past sexual contact does not necessarily make it too late to benefit.

The programme depends on where you live

In the UK, the NHS offers the vaccine to all children aged 12 to 13. The routine adolescent programme uses a single injection. The course can differ for other eligible people: older people in targeted programmes and people with weakened immune systems may need a different course. Your vaccination team can check the programme that applies to you.

There is NHS catch-up vaccination for eligible young people who missed it, and targeted vaccination through sexual health or HIV clinics for some people at higher risk. Eligibility depends on age and the programme rules; ask your GP, school vaccination team or clinic to check your record.

In the US, routine vaccination is recommended at 11 or 12 years, and catch-up vaccination through 26 years of age. Most children starting before 15 years of age need 2 injections. Those starting at or after 15 years of age, and younger people with certain immune conditions, need 3. Adults 27 through 45 years of age can discuss vaccination with their clinician. Ask the vaccination service to arrange the course.

WHO also supports vaccination before sexual activity, alongside cervical screening. National programmes differ, so use the advice of the service where you receive care rather than combining parts of different countries’ schedules.

Screening and symptoms still matter

HPV testing forms part of cervical screening, using a sample from the cervix. There is no blood test for HPV. If you are arranging sexual health tests, ask which infections they check for and how cervical screening fits into your care.

Keep attending cervical screening when invited after vaccination. Condoms can reduce HPV transmission, but cannot cover all the genital skin where it may be present. New symptoms still need checking, even if you use condoms and attend screening.

Book a GP appointment in the UK, or see your doctor in the US or elsewhere, for bleeding between periods or after sex, or a new foul-smelling discharge. These symptoms have several possible causes and need assessment. At the appointment, you can also ask who to contact about missed vaccination or your screening arrangements.