Am I more at risk of cervical cancer if I get HPV?
Although most of us will be exposed human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in our lives, it remains widely misunderstood.
Receiving a positive HPV result can be worrying and confusing, yet the link between HPV and cervical cancer is more nuanced than many people realise.
We spoke to Miss Adeola Olaitan, consultant gynaecological oncologist at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, who explained what HPV is, how it relates to cervical cancer and addressed some common myths around this topic.
What is HPV?
“HPV is a family of viruses that infect the skin and the mucosal tissue,” explains Olaitan. “There are different subtypes of HPV which are denoted by numbers.”
You can get HPV from any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area, vaginal, anal or oral sex or through sharing sex toys, according to the NHS website.
Most of the time HPV does not cause any problems, highlights the gynaecological oncologist.
“In most cases, HPV is a transient, harmless condition, and most people clear it without even knowing that they had it,” says Olaitan. “It will usually clear naturally within two years.”
What is the biggest misconception about HPV?
“I think the biggest misconception about HPV is the stigma surrounding it,” says Olaitan. “Because it’s a sexually associated infection, people think it has connotations of promiscuity, which it doesn’t. You can have sex once and get HPV.”
Which types of HPV can increase your risk of cervical cancer?
There are over 200 types of HPV, according to The Eve Appeal, and they are split into two groups: low-risk HPV and high-risk HPV.
Around 14 types of HPV are considered high risk for cervical cancer and two of these types (HPV 16 and HPV 18) cause about 70 out of 100 (70%) of all cervical cancer cases, according to Cancer Research UK.
“HPV 16 and HPV 18 can infect the cervix, and if the infection persists then they can increase the risk of cervical cancer,” explains Olaitan.
How can you find out if you have HPV?
“There are usually no symptoms of HPV, so if you don’t go to a cervical cancer screening, you won’t know you have it,” says Olaitan. “The knowledge of whether you have HPV or not is only important because it marks people out as having a greater risk of having abnormal cells, which if left undetected or untreated can increase the risk of cervical cancer.”
Everyone with a cervix should be invited for screening by the NHS every five years from the age 25 to 64, according to the NHS website. It also states that during the screening appointment, a small sample of cells is taken from your cervix and the sample is checked for high-risk HPV types that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix.
“If the initial screening finds high-risk HPV, a reflex cytology test would be conducted on the same sample to look for abnormal cells,” explains Olaitan. “If that finds no abnormal cells, you will be told to come back for a screening at a shorter interval. However, if abnormal cells are found you will be referred for a colposcopy to have a closer look at the cervix.”
Can protect yourself against HPV?
“The HPV vaccine is very effective at protecting people against HPV,” says Olaitan. “It’s typically given to children between the ages of 11 and 13 and is licensed to the age of 45, but it’s less effective the older you are.
“But you can have it even if you’ve been exposed to HPV or you have a current HPV infection, and it gives immunity that’s stronger and longer lasting than natural immunity alone. So, it’s still good to have it, but it’s better to have it when you’re young.”
What are some symptoms of cervical cancer to look out for?
“The most common symptoms of cervical cancer are bleeding after sex, bleeding in between periods, bleeding after the menopause, or an offensive, persistent vagina discharge,” highlights Olaitan. “Most of the time these symptoms are indicative of benign conditions, but it’s important that they’re not ignored and that you go and get them checked to exclude anything more serious going on.”
What’s the most important thing people should know about HPV and cervical cancer?
“Remember that cervical cancer is preventable, and people who go for regular screenings are unlikely to get cancer,” says Olaitan. “Screening and being vaccinated are two of the most important things you can do for your health.”
