(click to alter)The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common viral infection of the genital area in both men and women. It infects more than 4 million men and women in the UK every year. Fortunately in most people (90%), the infection is naturally cleared by the body's own defense system. There are many different types of virus which can cause different effects of HPV infection.
HPV is highly contagious and can be passed on from person to person through skin to skin contact, including sexual contact. Approximately 90% of sexually active women develop the HPV infection at some stage of their life. But for most women, HPV exposure during late teens and early twenties is most common. Most women do not experience any signs of symptoms with HPV, and only discover they have HPV with an abnormal smear result. Not knowing they have HPV can mean women can transmit HPV without knowing they have it.
In the women where HPV does not clear by itself, over time it can develop into different diseases which affects the genitals. These diseases include pre-cancerous lesions in the cervix, cervical cancer and genital warts. They can be internal or external. Some of these are first noticed by the individual, others will only be detected during an examination and others only by a smear test.
There are about 130 different types of HPV and 30-40 of these types are transmitted through sexual contact. There is a cervical cancer vaccine available in the UK that we give at 132 Harley Street to females aged 16 and above. (Please refer to cervical cancer vaccine link). This vaccine prevents against HPV types 6, 11 16 and 18. HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of HPV related cervical cancer cases. HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital wart cases.
If you think you need a HPV test or a cervical cancer vaccine, please contact 132 Healthwise.
