Frequently asked questions about HPV
Learn more about human papillomavirus, its impacts and prevention
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).[1] There are over 200 types of HPV. Different HPV types infect different parts of the body and can lead to different diseases, including cervical and other types of cancer, and genital warts.[2]
Who can get HPV? How does it spread?
Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV. It can spread from someone who has the virus through direct contact with skin, mucous membranes (e.g., the inner lining of the nose or mouth), or bodily fluids during sexual activity.
While use of condoms can reduce the risk of transmission, it does not protect against HPV infection. Having a sexual relationship with only one partner at a time, also does not protect against HPV. In most cases, women are infected by men or their husbands.
In rare cases, HPV can spread from an infected mother to her newborn baby during childbirth.[3] However, HPV is not inherited, and it does not spread by sharing towels and clothes.[4]
How common is HPV?
HPV is the most common STI in the world. About 8 in 10 people will be infected with HPV one or more times at some point in their lives. The highest rates of HPV infection occur in sexually active people up to 25 years of age.[5]
What diseases can HPV cause?
The most common manifestation of HPV infection are genital warts. Genital warts look like skin-colored or whitish bumps that show up on the vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, or anus. You can have just one wart or a bunch of them, and they can be big or small. They might be itchy, painful, or bleed, but most of the time they do not hurt.
HPV causes almost all cases of cervical cancer, most cases of vaginal and penile cancer, and some cases of anal, mouth, throat, head and neck cancer. HPV-induced anal cancer affects both men and women, with the highest risk among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.
What is cervical cancer?
Infection with high-risk HPV types may lead to abnormal changes or pre-cancerous growths in the cells lining the cervix (lower end of the uterus). If the growths do not heal or are not removed, they can develop into cervical cancer.[6] It usually takes 15–20 years for these growths to develop into cervical cancer.
How common is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally with around 660 000 new cases and around 350 000 deaths in 2022.[7] The highest rates of cervical cancer cases and deaths are in low- and middle-income countries.[8] The burden of cervical cancer varies by region, with Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America having the highest burden.
Unlike most cancers, cervical cancer is more likely to develop among young women aged 35–45 than among older women.[9] Women living with HIV are also six times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women without HIV.[10]
What are the symptoms of HPV infection and cervical cancer?
Most people will not have any symptoms from an HPV infection. The immune system usually clears HPV from the body within 12-24 months with no lasting effects.
Some HPV infections cause small rough lumps or warts in the genital area. They may be painful, itchy, bleed or cause swollen glands.
HPV infection that does not go away on its own can cause changes to cells in the cervix, which lead to pre-cancers that may become cervical cancer if untreated. The changes in cervical cells and pre-cancers mostly do not cause symptoms. It usually takes 15-20 years for cervical cancer to develop after HPV infection.
Symptoms of cervical cancer may include bleeding between periods, after menopause or after sexual intercourse; increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, persistent pain in the back, legs or pelvis, unexplained weight loss, fatigue or loss of appetite, vaginal discomfort or swelling in the legs. People with these symptoms should speak to their healthcare provider.[11]
Is it possible to tell if a person has HPV just by looking at them?
No. The HPV infection cannot be seen, and in most cases, there are no visible signs.[12]
How can I get tested for HPV and cervical cancer?
The HPV test and the Pap test can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early.
The HPV test looks for the virus that can cause cell changes on the cervix. The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, which are cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if not treated appropriately.
It is recommended that young women get Pap tests starting at age 21 every 3 years till age 29. If you’re a virgin, you may be at low risk but should still consider getting tested, considering sex isn’t the only way to develop cervical cancer. Women aged 30 years and above should get an HPV test every 5 years.
Both tests can be done in a doctor’s office or clinic. During an HPV test or Pap test, the doctor will use a plastic or metal instrument to look inside your vagina. This helps the doctor examine the vagina and the cervix, and collect a sample or smear, which is a few cells and mucus from the cervix and the area around it. Some women find Pap and HPV tests uncomfortable, but the tests should not be too painful.[13]
Can HPV infection and cervical cancer be prevented?
HPV vaccination before a person becomes sexually active significantly reduces the risk of infection because the vaccines protect against most common HPV types that cause up to 9 in 10 cases of cervical cancer cases and genital warts.
HPV vaccination will not protect against all HPV types so cervical cancer screening is still important even if a person has been vaccinated.
Reducing the number of sexual partners and the frequency of new partners can reduce the risk of HPV infection. Using condoms and other barrier contraceptives reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of sexual transmission of HPV.[14]
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
The main aim of HPV vaccination is to protect from cervical cancer. WHO recommends the vaccination of girls between the age of 9 and 14 years as a priority, before they become sexually active. Some countries recommend vaccination of all girls and young women up to the age of 26 or more. Some countries also recommend the immunization of boys and young men.[15]
Younger people are targeted for a variety of reasons. Vaccination before sexual activity reduces the chances of HPV exposure. Young people also tend to have a stronger immune response to vaccines. Vaccination at a young age prevents HPV-related diseases early, providing extended protection into adulthood and reducing healthcare costs in the long term.
Do HPV vaccines have any side effects?
Like other vaccines and medicines, HPV vaccines often have mild side effects such as pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, headache and a mild fever. These usually last a few hours to a day. As a precaution, anyone receiving a vaccine should stay in the clinic or at the vaccination site for 15 minutes afterwards. If they feel lightheaded or have difficulty breathing, they should tell the healthcare provider, who is trained to treat fainting and allergic reactions.[16]
Are HPV vaccines safe and effective?
Yes. HPV vaccines are rigorously tested for safety and undergo ongoing monitoring by the health authorities and WHO even after they are licensed. All HPV vaccines are more than 95% protective against infection with cancer-causing HPV virus types.[17]
Does vaccination against HPV trigger the start of menstruation in young girls?
No, HPV does not trigger the start of menstruation in young girls. The periods would have started with or without HPV vaccination.
Can I get the vaccine if I’m already sexually active?
People who are already sexually active can still benefit from vaccination. This will protect them against HPV types in the vaccine that they have not been exposed to, but may not protect them if they have already been infected with HPV.[18]
Can I get HPV from the vaccine?
No. The vaccine is non-infectious, and you will not get HPV infection through vaccination.[19]
How long does protection last? Will I need a booster?
So far there is no evidence that protection is waning among those who have been vaccinated since the first HPV vaccine was introduced in 2006.[20] There is no evidence for needing boosters for now.
Are HPV and HIV the same?
No. HPV should not be confused with HIV. They are both viruses that can be transmitted sexually, but they affect the human body differently.[21]
Is the HPV vaccine safe for girls with HIV?
Yes, the HPV vaccine is safe for girls with HIV. In fact, it is especially important for girls with HIV to get the HPV vaccine, because they are at higher risk of developing HPV-related cancers.[22]
Where can I get the HPV vaccine?
HPV vaccination is part of the routine immunization schedule for girls and in some cases also boys in 135 countries worldwide,[23] but it may not be publicly available everywhere. The Government of Nepal has planned a nationwide campaign to provide the vaccine to adolescents aged 10-14 years in 2025.
Adapted from: Frequently asked questions about HPV | Voices of Youth
[1, 6, 11] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papilloma-virus-and-cancer
[2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23] https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/376263/WHO-EURO-2024-5631-49185-73415-eng.pdf
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9607260/
[7, 8, 10, 21] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer
[12, 19] https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/parents-frequently-asked-questions-hpv-cervical-cancer
[13] https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm
[22] https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/frequently-asked-questions-about-hpv-vaccine
