Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that affect your skin and the moist membranes lining your body, e.g. in your cervix, anus, mouth and throat. There are more than 100 types of human papilloma virus. Around 40 types of human papilloma virus infection can affect the genital area.

Infection with some types of genital human papilloma virus can cause:

1. abnormal tissue growth and other changes to cells, which can lead to cervical cancer, and
2. genital warts, which are the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK.

Other types of human papilloma virus infection can cause minor problems, such as common skin warts and verrucas.

In most women, infection with human papilloma virus causes no harm because your immune system clears up the initial infection. This is particularly the case for women who are under 30 and who tend to have many HPV infections. Most women with a HPV infection don’t go on to develop cervical cancer.

If you’re infected with a high-risk type of HPV, you will usually have no symptoms, whether you’re a woman or a man. In men, at present there is no reliable test to detect HPV infection and it’s often very difficult to diagnose.

Vaccination against HPV in the UK

Since September 2008, a national programme of human papilloma virus vaccination has been in place for girls who are 12 and 13 years old. The HPV vaccine is also being offered to 13 to 18-year-old girls, through a three-year catch-up campaign.

The HPV vaccination programme is being delivered largely through secondary schools, with three injections given over a six-month period.

The HPV vaccination may also be available at private health and medical clinics, where a fee will be charged. The HPV vaccination doesn’t replace the need for regular cervical smear tests in women aged 25 to 65. There is currently no medical treatment for human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.

Research trials that have been conducted so far have looked at preventing HPV infection. The vaccines that have been developed from the trials have not been designed to treat women who already have HPV infection. However, future research will look at a vaccine to treat women already infected with HPV.

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