Category: Women's Health / Cancer Screening

HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

Also known as: HPV · Human papillomavirus

HPV, short for human papillomavirus, is the name for a group of 200 known viruses that spread through skin-to-skin and sexual contact. Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and clear without treatment: in around 90% of people the body controls the infection by itself. A small number of high-risk HPV types can persist for years and cause changes to cervical cells that may eventually develop into cervical cancer. HPV is very common, and almost all sexually active people are infected at some point in their lives.

How HPV spreads

HPV passes between people through direct skin-to-skin and sexual contact. It can affect the skin, the genital area and the throat. Condoms reduce the risk of transmission but do not offer total protection, because they do not cover all the genital skin.

Because most infections produce no symptoms, people usually do not know when they acquired HPV or when it cleared. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, and acquiring it is not a reflection of how many partners someone has had.

Low-risk and high-risk HPV types

Not all HPV types behave the same way. They are grouped by the risk they carry:

Low-risk types do not cause cancer. Some cause genital warts.
High-risk types can cause cells to grow abnormally. Persistent infection with these types is what leads to cancer.
HPV 16 and HPV 18 are the two most significant high-risk types.

HPV and cervical cancer

Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types is the cause of cervical cancer, and is also associated with cancers of the vulva, vagina, mouth and throat, penis and anus. HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide.

An HPV infection is not cervical cancer, and the two should not be confused. Where an infection does progress, it is slow: it usually takes 15 to 20 years for cervical cancer to develop after HPV infection. That long window is precisely why regular screening works, because cell changes can be found and treated long before cancer develops.

How HPV is tested for

An HPV test looks for the genetic material of high-risk HPV types in a sample of cells taken from the cervix. It answers a different question from a Pap test, which examines the cells themselves for abnormal changes. Cervical cancer is currently the only HPV-caused cancer for which screening tests are available.

Some HPV tests allow vaginal self-sampling, where the person collects their own sample rather than having it collected during a clinical examination. Whether self-sampling is approved depends on the specific test and the country it is supplied in.

HPV testing and vaccination in Singapore

In Singapore, cervical screening is offered by age. A Pap test is used for women aged 25 to 29, and an HPV test is used from age 30 onwards. Subsidised screening is available to eligible Singapore Citizens through Healthier SG Screening.

Vaccination is the other half of prevention. WHO recommends HPV vaccination for all girls aged 9 to 14, before they become sexually active. The vaccine prevents infection but is not used to treat an existing HPV infection, so vaccinated people still need routine screening.

What a positive HPV result means

A positive high-risk HPV result means a high-risk type was detected in the sample. It does not mean cancer is present, and it does not mean cancer will develop. It means follow-up is appropriate, and what that follow-up looks like depends on the result, your age and the screening programme.

If you have unusual bleeding, bleeding after sex, pelvic pain or unusual discharge, speak to a healthcare professional rather than waiting for a routine screening appointment. Screening is designed for people without symptoms.

Frequently asked questions

Does having HPV mean I have cancer?

No. HPV is very common and most infections clear on their own without causing any health problem. In around 90% of people the body controls the infection by itself. Only persistent infection with certain high-risk types can lead to cell changes that may develop into cancer, and that process usually takes 15 to 20 years.

Can HPV go away on its own?

Yes. In about 90% of cases the immune system clears HPV without treatment, usually within a year or two. There is no treatment for the HPV infection itself. Treatment is directed at the cell changes or warts an infection may cause.

Can men get HPV?

Yes. HPV affects people of any sex and can cause cancers of the mouth and throat, penis and anus. Routine HPV screening is currently only available for cervical cancer, because that is the only HPV-caused cancer for which a screening test exists.

Do I still need cervical screening if I have had the HPV vaccine?

Yes. The HPV vaccine prevents infection with the types it covers, but it does not treat an existing infection and does not cover every high-risk type. Routine cervical screening is still recommended for vaccinated people.

What is the difference between HPV and an HPV test?

HPV is the virus. An HPV test is a screening test that looks for the genetic material of high-risk HPV types in a cervical sample, to identify people who may need closer follow-up.

Related terms

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References

Understanding your health information

Our glossary is designed to help make health and testing terminology easier to understand.

The information provided here is for general educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The purpose and regulatory status of individual Camtech Health tests may differ depending on the product and country in which they are supplied.

If you have symptoms, receive an unexpected result or are concerned about your health, speak with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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