Human papillomavirus, more commonly known as HPV, is not a single virus but a group of more than 200 related viruses. It is also one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. Most sexually active people will contract some form of HPV at least once during their lifetime, often without ever knowing it, as the majority of infections produce no symptoms and resolve on their own.
The virus can affect the skin, the genital area and the throat. While most strains are considered low risk and cause no lasting harm, certain high risk types have a well-documented link to cancer. According to the World Health Organization, 99% of all cervical cancer cases are connected to HPV. In 2019 alone, the virus was responsible for an estimated 620,000 cancer cases in women and 70,000 in men worldwide.
What are the signs to watch for?
The majority of people infected with HPV will never develop noticeable symptoms, and the body’s immune system typically clears the virus within two years without any medical intervention. For those who do experience symptoms, the most recognizable sign is genital warts small bumps or clusters of bumps in the genital area that can vary in size and shape.
Other possible signs include unusual growths or lumps in the genital area, mouth or throat, sores in those same areas, and in women, early cellular changes in the cervix that can only be detected through routine screening. Symptoms associated with cervical cancer, such as bleeding between periods, bleeding after sexual intercourse, or abnormal vaginal discharge, may indicate that an HPV infection has progressed into something more serious and require immediate medical attention.
Which cancers are linked to HPV?
Beyond cervical cancer, high risk strains of HPV are connected to several other cancer types. These include anal cancer, penile cancer, vulval cancer, vaginal cancer, and certain head and neck cancers particularly those affecting the back of the throat, the base of the tongue and the tonsils. It is worth noting that cancers linked to HPV can take years or even decades to develop after the initial infection, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of complications.
How does HPV spread?
HPV is primarily transmitted through skin to skin contact in the genital area. This includes vaginal, anal and oral sex, sharing sex toys, and close physical contact during sexual activity. A person can transmit the virus even when they have no symptoms and no visible signs of infection. Crucially, HPV does not require multiple sexual partners to be contracted it can be passed on the very first time a person is sexually active.
Is there a treatment?
There is currently no treatment that eliminates the HPV virus itself. However, the health conditions it can trigger are treatable. Genital warts can be managed with prescription medications or through procedures carried out by a healthcare provider. Precancerous cervical changes, when caught early through routine Pap smear testing, can be treated before they develop into cancer. Cancers caused by HPV are significantly more manageable when detected early, which is why regular screening remains so important.
Prevention and the vaccine success story
Several steps can meaningfully reduce the risk of HPV. Using condoms, avoiding sexual activity when genital warts are present, and not smoking which raises the risk of a persistent infection all offer some level of protection. In the United Kingdom, routine cervical screening is recommended for women between the ages of 25 and 64.
But the most powerful tool available is vaccination. The HPV vaccine, first approved in 2006, is considered both safe and highly effective. In the U.K., it is offered to boys and girls aged 12 to 13. A 2024 study led by researchers at Cancer Research UK and St. Mary’s University in London found that the vaccination program reduced cervical cancer cases in England by 90%.
The scientific foundation for the vaccine traces back to German virologist who identified HPV DNA in cervical cancer tissue. His discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008 and ultimately made the vaccine possible, a development that researchers and public health officials continue to call one of the most significant achievements in modern cancer prevention.
