Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 100 common viruses.
Most people will get HPV in their lifetime. HPV is most common in people in their late teens and early 20s.
HPV infection does not usually cause symptoms. But some types of HPV cause cancer. Other types cause genital warts.
How HPV spreads
You usually get HPV by being sexually active with someone who has the virus, even if they do not have symptoms.
You can get HPV from skin-to-skin contact during sex, including vaginal, anal or oral sex.
The risks are higher for men who have sex with men.
HPV can remain dormant in your body. It can reactivate over time. You can develop symptoms years after you get HPV.
How long HPV can remain dormant
A mother can pass HPV to her baby during birth, but this is very rare.
Symptoms of HPV
Most people with HPV do not have symptoms and do not know they have it.
Sometimes HPV can cause genital warts. These are painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis or anus.
Sometimes HPV causes cancer. There are often no obvious symptoms with early-stage cervical cancer.
HPV and cancer
HPV causes about 400 cancers in Ireland every year. Both men and women are affected.
HPV can also cause abnormal changes in cells (pre-cancerous cells). These can develop into cancer.
High-risk HPV
HPV that causes cancer is called high-risk HPV.
High-risk HPV can cause:
- cervical cancer - 9 out of 10 cervical cancers are caused by HPV
- vulval cancer
- vaginal cancer
- anal cancer
- mouth and throat (oropharynx) cancer
- penile cancer
Treating HPV
There is no treatment for HPV infection. For most people, the virus goes away on its own and does not cause any harm.
Your body's immune system usually clears it in 1 to 2 years.
Reduce your risk of HPV
You cannot fully protect yourself against HPV, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk.
HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine helps protect you against the types of HPV that cause cancer and genital warts. The vaccine is recommended for children age 12 to 13. They can get it through the school vaccination programme. It is also recommended for people at higher risk from HPV.
Who should get the HPV vaccine
Condoms
Using condoms can reduce the risk of getting HPV. But they do not offer complete protection. HPV can affect areas not covered by a condom.
Cervical screening for HPV
Cervical screening (previously known as a smear test) checks for high-risk HPV. Screening is offered to women and people with a cervix, age 25 to 65.
The cervical screening programme is called CervicalCheck. Go to all your cervical screening appointments when they are due, even if you had the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine does not protect you from all types of HPV.
Important
You can still be at risk of cervical cancer even if you had the HPV vaccine. This is why screening is important
There is no HPV screening available for men or someone with a penis. Getting the HPV vaccine helps reduce the risk of genital warts and HPV-related cancers.