HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. It’s a very common virus. Most girls and women will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. There aren’t usually any symptoms so you generally wouldn’t know you have it. It’s mainly spread by sexual activity with another person who has the virus. It doesn’t need to be full sex. You can catch it from oral sex or touching each other’s genitals. Using a condom can help prevent the virus being spread and reduce the risk of cervical cancer but you can still get HPV even if you’re using condoms.
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix. The cervix is the entrance to the womb which is found at the top of the vagina. There are lots of different types of HPV (each is known by a number). Most are harmless or may cause genital warts. But, some types can cause cervical cancer. The two most common types linked to cervical cancer are HPV 16 and 18. These are responsible for 70% of the cases of cervical cancer. The new HPV vaccine helps to protect against infection from HPV 16 and 18. The vaccine doesn’t protect you from other sexually transmitted infections.
Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but HPV can stay in your body for many years without you knowing. The HPV virus can eventually damage the cells in the cervix. Over time, these changes may develop into cervical cancer. At the moment we don’t know who will go on to develop cervical cancer so the best way to protect yourself is to have the vaccine. From autumn 2008, the HPV vaccine will be offered to girls aged 12 to 13. Older girls aged 13-18 will also be offered the vaccine for the next three years (as part of a ‘catch-up’ programme).
You’ll need three doses of the vaccine over six months for the best protection against HPV. It’s really important to complete the course and have all three doses. Most girls will get it at school. But, if you’ve left school and you were born after 1 September 1990, you’ll get a letter to your house from your local NHS asking you to make arrangements for your immunisation. The letter may contain information about where and when your immunisation will take place, or may have a number that you can call to make arrangements for your immunisation. The vaccine is given as an injection into your upper arm. The second injection is given about 1 month after your first injection, and the third is given about 6 months after your first injection.
Because the HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against all cervical cancers, it’s really important for all girls to have cervical smears (when a doctor or nurse takes a sample of cells from the cervix to test for any changes) later in life. You’ll still be encouraged to come for cervical smears even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine (from the age of 25 in England, and the age of 20 in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
