Human papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV can remain in your body for many years without it causing problems. However, high-risk types may cause problems later-on in life, including cervical and genital cancers and several types of head and neck cancer.

Conditions linked to low-risk HPV

Most of the time low-risk HPV does not cause any symptoms or problems. However, in some people, low-risk types of HPV can cause:

• warts and verrucas on the skin
• genital warts

Symptoms include painless growth or lumps around the vagina, penis or anus (genital warts)

Conditions linked to high-risk HPV

Most of the time high-risk HPV does not cause any symptoms or problems. Unfortunately, in a small number of people, high-risk HPV can persist in the body for a long period of time and can lead to the development of a few different cancers:

• Head and Neck Cancer (especially of the tonsils, base of the tongue and throat)
• cervical cancer
• anal cancer
• penile cancer
• vulval cancer
• vaginal cancer

Symptoms of HPV-related cancer are varied and depend on what area of the body is affected. Specific symptoms for different types of HPV-related cancer can be found by clicking on the links above.

If you have any of the key symptoms for more than 3 weeks you should consult your GP promptly.

How human papillomavirus (HPV) is spread

You can get HPV from:

• any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area
• any type of sexual contact

Important to note – You do not have to have sexual contact with a lot of people to get HPV. Most people will get HPV at some point in their life. The HPV virus can remain hidden in your body from your immune system for many years / decades.