Dr Anthony Chiew Han Yang, Primary Care Doctor

1 March, 2023

HPV Cause, Risk and Prevention - Spread Love, Not HPV

What is Human Papillomavirus?

Human Papillomavirus or better known as HPV is a type of non-enveloped DNA virus that causes the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in humans. There are more than 150 different types of HPV but only about 40 types cause the disease in humans.

HPV is often categorized into high-risk type and low-risk types. The high-risk types of HPV pose greater health concerns to humans because some of them may cause cancer. Individuals who are sexually active will acquire HPV at some point in their lives, even if they have only a few sexual partners.

Does HPV cause health problems?

HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and intimate sexual contact with someone who is infected with the virus. In rare circumstances, a mother who has HPV during pregnancy can transmit the virus to her baby during delivery. When this occurs, the child may develop a condition known as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and this may lead to the development of HPV-related warts in the airways.

There are two categories of sexually transmitted Human Papillomavirus. Low-risk HPV can cause warts on your genitals, anus, mouth or throat. High-risk HPV on the other hand cause various cancers like cervical, anal cancer, oral and throat cancer, vulvovaginal cancer and penile cancer.

Who is at risk of HPV?

Nearly all sexually active individuals are infected with Human Papillomavirus once they become sexually active. However, there are several factors that can further increase your risk of HPV infection such as having multiple sexual partners, having sex with someone who has had several sexual partners, having sex without using barrier protection, contact with warts or surfaces where HPV exposure has occurred and not vaccinated against HPV.

I am HPV positive. Now what?

About 90 per cent of HPV infections go away on their own in about one to two years due to our body’s immune response. However, immunocompromised individuals or the elderly may have persistent HPV infections.

When the virus still persists in your body, this can cause serious health problems. The symptoms depend on the type of HPV infected and the involved body sites. For instance, anogenital warts and warts in the throat or oral cavity. HPV can cause cancer of the cervix, genitals, head and neck cancer. Cancers caused by HPV often do not show symptoms until at a later stage. Therefore, regular health screening can help detect HPV-related conditions which can be treated earlier and improve survival.

HPV Prevention

Effective use of barrier protection like condoms can reduce the chance of Human Papillomavirus infection but not completely eliminate the risk. This is because HPV can still be transmitted through areas that are not covered with condoms. Limiting the number of sexual partners remained one of the many effective ways of preventing the spread of HPV infection. Besides, the HPV vaccine can protect against several cancer and non-cancer-causing strains of HPV. Vaccines offer the most protection when people get them before they are exposed to the virus. Women should consider pap smears and HPV testing as part of the screening for cervical cancer. This procedure involves obtaining cells sample from the cervix for testing for any pre-cancerous changes or even cancer. HPV testing can also be done through this procedure.

Who should get screened for HPV?

Female. There is currently no approved test for HPV in men.

Age range

Age 30 until age 65

Do non-sexually active individuals require to get screened for HPV?

Screening is a must even if you are not currently sexually active or if you have never had vaginal intercourse. HPV can be spread through other types of sexual contact even without intercourse.

Who should get Vaccinated for HPV?

Female and Male

When should you get vaccinated for HPV?

9 – 45 years old

Gardasil-9 2 Doses Guidelines
Gardasil-9 3 Doses Guidelines

Early detection of Human Papillomavirus is crucial to protect you and your family against unpredictable health outcomes at every stage of life.

Get your vaccination and health screened today.

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