Two people's feet in bed.

Talking about a virus is all a lot of u.s.a. seem to exist doing at the moment. Nosotros're happy enough chatting away near COVID-19 and other common viruses like the cold or influenza, so why is there so little conversation about HPV?

Yous may have heard near HPV, human papillomavirus , every bit the virus linked to cancer. Cervical cancer is the type almost strongly linked to HPV infection, but HPV can also cause cancer of the anus , penis , vagina and vulva , and some types of mouth and throat cancers . Simply although HPV tin crusade cancer, having HPV doesn't mean you take or volition definitely get cancer.

Although non everyone will be comfy talking to their friends or partners nearly HPV, our Cancer Inquiry UK nurses have received lots of questions from people worried nearly what HPV is, and what having HPV means for their health, their partner'southward health and very often, their sex life.

You've asked and we've answered.

Is HPV a sexually transmitted infection?

HPV is a really common virus – most of us will have HPV at some point in our lifetime without it causing any harm and a lot of the time without us knowing.

HPV lives in the peel and the cells lining the inside of our torso, so it tin laissez passer betwixt people through close peel to skin contact, often during sex. This includes penetrative vaginal and anal sex, oral sexual practice, touching and using sex toys with a partner, such every bit vibrators or butt plugs.

Labelling HPV every bit an STI isn't particularly helpful in a lot of cases. It prompts questions like 'where did I get it?' or 'who gave it to me?', which in reality is not how information technology works and just adds to the reasons why we don't want to talk nigh information technology.

Having HPV is non something to be aback of, and it's not a sign that you or your partner have been unfaithful. Having HPV is just a totally normal function of life.

How did I get HPV and can I get rid of it?

At present nosotros know how HPV can be passed between people, let'southward talk a bit more than about how the virus works.

HPV has a 'dormancy' period, which means that the virus spends some time in our body without causing any damage, this is usually a couple of years just can stretch to decades.

When HPV is dormant it can't be detected by a examination, but information technology tin go active later which is when information technology would exist picked up in cervical screening. This is also why you might not accept had HPV evidence up in your previous screening just it has in your almost recent one – it'due south not necessarily that you have had a new HPV infection between screens, but that information technology has been fallow in your cells.

Information technology's hard to know how long an infection has been at that place for if it's been dormant, so in that location'due south usually no bespeak trying to work out where you lot 'got' HPV.

There's no cure for HPV simply most of the time our body's immune system does the job and clears up the infection by itself before it's washed any damage. It'due south only when certain types, or strains, of HPV tin't be cleared up by our torso that damage can happen to our cells. Regular cervical screening monitors HPV infection, it sees if the infection has cleared from your final screen or whether the infection has caused the cells in the cervix to change and need treating.

If I've had HPV once can I go information technology again?

In that location are over a hundred different types, or strains, of HPV and around 13 of these are linked to cancer. So it's possible to have multiple infections and y'all might accept dissimilar strains of HPV over the years that are picked up at cervical screening.

What the science is less clear on is reinfection – this means getting the same strain of HPV again.

Our allowed system mostly works by recognising something that's not correct and building an immunity that means nosotros tin't get the same infection again. Simply studies show our natural immunity against HPV isn't very good and so it tin be possible to take the same infection once again.

There'due south still lots of research to be done to understand this properly and how reinfection could happen between partners.

Does my partner have it and how can I protect them?

There isn't testing for HPV autonomously from equally role of the national cervical screening programme . Cervical screening is for anyone with a cervix anile between 25 and 64. This tin include women, transgender men and people who are non-binary . Invitations to cervical screening start at 25 because in younger people, the changes to the cells in the cervix more than often return to normal and are less likely to develop into cancer. Screening at a younger age would lead to unnecessary worry and treatment, and overall does more than harm than good .

There are some means to reduce the adventure of getting or passing on HPV, only it's important to call up it is a very common virus and it's normal to have information technology at points in your life.

As HPV is passed betwixt people during close skin to skin contact, bulwark methods like condoms and dental dams tin can reduce take a chance, just they don't work perfectly. Having HPV doesn't mean yous need to cease having sex with your partner but sexual wellness and consent is ever important to talk about with whatsoever sexual partners.

But attempt not to worry most it as well much. Fifty-fifty though HPV infection itself is common, it leading to cancer isn't. Around 80% people will take an HPV infection at some signal in their life but only a modest pct of people will develop a cancer linked to HPV.

There aren't screening programmes for all cancer types related to HPV every bit screening is only prepare when there'south an effective test, and when saving lives can be balanced with non adding health gamble. It's of import to remember that screening is for people without symptoms. If you are worried almost a symptom or have noticed a change that is non normal for you or not going abroad, tell your medico – whatever your age and regardless of whether you lot have been for screening recently or not.

Tin I give HPV to my kids?

HPV can be passed between mother and child during pregnancy or delivery, simply it'southward not very likely. And if it does happen, commonly the infection clears up past itself and at that place are no issues for the child.

There is more than research needed to understand the transmission betwixt mother and kid. HPV tin too be passed through chest feeding but this is very rare and shouldn't be a reason not to breastfeed. If information technology's something you lot are concerned about – talk to your doctor or midwife.

Should I get the HPV vaccine?

HPV vaccination is an important part of reducing the number of people with high risk HPV and in turn, the number of people who develop HPV related cancers. In the Britain, all children between 11 and 13 are offered the HPV vaccine.

Vaccines work by reducing the risk of getting an infection, they're not designed to become rid of an infection that is already there. The vaccine programme includes children of this age as it is likely to exist before whatever exposure to HPV which makes it work meliorate. Once a person has been exposed to HPV, the vaccine becomes less effective.

Yous can request a vaccine for free upwards to the age for 25 if y'all didn't have one when y'all were offered information technology at school. The vaccine is too bachelor to men who accept sexual practice with men upward to 45 through sexual health clinics. You lot tin pay to have the vaccine privately if don't meet these criteria, merely the vaccine may not be effective if you've already been exposed to the virus, which most of us have been when we're adults.

The best way to protect yourself against cervical cancer is to nourish your regular cervical screening. The vaccine isn't 100% constructive at protecting against HPV then cervical screening is still important whether you have had the HPV vaccine or not.

Though sometimes some of the science is complicated, what having HPV means shouldn't be – information technology's normal! It's hard to merely 'not worry', merely at that place'due south non much you can practice about your HPV status and having regular cervical screening is a really effective mode of preventing cervical cancer.

While many of u.s. may accept hang ups about sex, don't let HPV be 1 of them.

Karis

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