What is HPV?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus and is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can affect people of all genders and sexualities.
HPV often has no symptoms and goes away by itself, but HPV can sometimes cause serious diseases, including genital warts and some cancers.
Eight out of 10 sexually active people will have an HPV infection at some time in their lives. However, many people won’t have any symptoms and may never know they’ve had it.
Having the HPV vaccination at a young age can help protect you against most HPV-related cancers and diseases in the future.
Contracting HPV
HPV is commonly spread through genital-skin contact during sexual activity through tiny breaks in the skin.
You can be exposed to HPV the first time you are sexually active with another person. You can get HPV even if you have had only one sexual partner.
You can have HPV for a long time without even knowing it. HPV can remain dormant in the body for up to 10 to 20 years. This means people in long-term monogamous relationships or people who have not been sexually active for many years can still get HPV.
Condoms or dental dams offer some protection from HPV but do not cover all genital skin. This means HPV can still be transmitted. It is still important to practice safe sex as it protects you from many other sexually transmitted infections.
Learn how the HPV vaccine protects you
Testing for HPV
Currently, HPV testing is only available for women and people with a cervix through a Cervical Screening Test. Women and people with a cervix who have ever been sexually active need to have regular Cervical Screening Tests every five years once they turn 25 until the age of 74, even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine.
The Cervical Screening Test looks for the presence of HPV. If HPV is detected early, it can be monitored and any cell changes in your cervix that are caused by HPV can be treated early.
Regular sexual health tests do not test for HPV. There is currently no approved screening test for HPV in men. If you are concerned or have any questions, you should speak to your doctor or medical practitioner.
Treating HPV
There is no treatment or cure for HPV. That’s why it’s so important to have the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine protects you against the most common types of HPV that can cause cancer and genital warts.
Learn more about cervical screening
HPV and cancer
In some cases, if an HPV infection persists it can cause changes to the cells in your body. If left untreated, these cell changes may lead to cancer.
There are many different HPV types but only some can potentially cause serious diseases such as cancer.
HPV causes:
- Almost all cervical cancers
- 90 per cent of anal cancers
- 78 per cent of vaginal cancers
- 25 per cent of vulvar cancers
- 50 per cent of penile cancers
- 60 per cent of cancers of the back of the mouth and throat (oropharyngeal cancers).
Read more about HPV and cancer
HPV and genital warts
Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection caused by HPV. Genital warts are caused by the types of HPV which do not cause cancer. Having genital warts does not mean you are at risk of cancer.
Genital warts used to be a very common sexually transmitted infection in Australia, especially in young people.
But since the HPV vaccine was introduced in 2007, genital warts have become much less common.
In most cases, genital warts can be treated by your doctor.