Human Papilloma Virus (HPV or Wart Virus)

HPV does cause cervical cancer, but only in a very, very small proportion of cases. Hence HPV infection is common, but cervical cancer is very rare. In most cases of HPV infection, the immune system will get rid of the infection for you. From acquiring HPV infection to getting cervical cancer, it takes between 10 to 15 years. This means that if you have regular smear tests, any abnormality on the cervix can often be detected before it becomes a serious problem. The risk of getting cervical cancer is extremely low if you have regular smear tests as suggested by your GP. There are over 100 different types of HPV virus and only 14 of them are high risk types associated with cervical cancer. The commonest high-risk types are 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45.

In addition to high-risk types of HPV, there are also low-risk types which are not associated with causing cervical cancer. Two common low-risk HPV types are 6 and 11 which are associated with causing genital warts. It is possible to have an infection with low-risk HPV without any symptoms. Some women and men however will develop lumps on the genital skin or inside the vagina or anus, these are known as genital warts. If you are worried or concerned that you may have genital warts you can speak to a doctor or nurse who will be able to look at them. Although genital warts do not always require treatment and may resolve on their own, there are several options available which can help may them go away.

HPV test is now used as a screening test for cervical abnormalities instead of the traditional smear test. The new primary HPV screening test looks for presence of Human Papilloma Virus and is more sensitive. It is important to realise that having high risk HPV, does not been that you have cervical abnormality.

It is not necessary to treat HPV infection unless it causes a persistent or high-grade smear abnormality. Your immunity will usually get rid of the infection. If you have had an abnormal smear test, your doctor or nurse will explain whether the changes have reached a stage that requires treatment.

• Give up smoking – there is evidence to confirm that giving up smoking helps improve your immunity.
• Favour berries – choose purple and red veg and fruits which are high in lycopene, so tomatoes, beetroot and blueberries.
• AHCC shiitake mushroom extract; taking a 3gm daily supplement of AHCC has been proven to boost immunity and help clear HPV infection in some people. (The results of a trial in 2019 showed 60% reduction in HPV infection). One should be taken daily for at least 6 months.
• Green tea has benefits to help boost immunity. If you choose this option, one should be taken daily for at least 6 months.

This is entirely your decision.

• Pros of sharing the information: Honesty is often the best policy. Though the risk for men is significantly less than women, being aware is important.
• Cons of sharing the information: Currently, validated testing for men is neither needed nor available. Sharing the information may lead to anxiety as well as misunderstanding.

If either or both of you also have genital warts, you may need treatment so it would be important to tell your partner and use barrier contraception.

Not at all. HPV infection can sometimes remain dormant in the body for several years and it is extremely difficult to say when you acquired it or who from.

This is not necessary.

It is very likely that you both carry the same subtypes of the virus and will have already developed immunity.

Currently, there is no evidence that you can be reinfected by the same subtype of HPV. So no additional precautions are needed.

Yes, this is possible through skin to skin contact.