What is HPV?

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HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. HPV can cause genital warts, cervical cancer, and other cancers, including anal, vaginal, vulva, penis, and head and throat cancers.

It is passed from one person to another through any skin-to-skin sexual contact below the waistline with fingers, mouths, shared sex toys, or other body parts, even without penetration. Most sexually active people will have at least one HPV infection at some point. Most HPV infections go away within two years without a person knowing they have it.

There are more than 100 types of HPV and most of them are harmless and cause no symptoms. Approximately 40 types of HPV can infect the genital region and about 13 to 15 of them are considered "high-risk" HPV types, which cause 99.7% of cervical cancer. High-risk HPV infections can lead to changes in the cells of the cervix. When high-risk HPV does not go away, it usually takes 10 to 20 years for infected cells to develop into cancer. Having a high-risk HPV infection does not mean a person has or will develop cancer. A high-risk HPV infection may lead to cancer if it has gone many years without being detected or treated.

Who can get HPV?

The short answer is that most sexually active people will have an HPV infection at least once in their lifetime.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. If you have had any sexual contact in your life with even with just one partner, there is a chance you had contact with HPV.

How do you get HPV?

HPV is passed from one person to another through any skin-to-skin sexual contact below the waistline with fingers, mouths, shared sex toys, or other body parts, even without penetration.

How does HPV cause cervical cancer?

HPV types are divided into "low-risk" and "high-risk" types. Some low-risk types can cause warts, while some high-risk types can cause cell changes that may lead to cancer.

Having a high-risk HPV infection does not mean you have or will develop cervical cancer. Most HPV infections go away on their own within two years without a person ever knowing they had it. If your body does not clear the infection, high-risk HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix. These changes can progress over the years from precancerous cell changes into cervical cancer, if left undetected and untreated.

High-risk HPV infection is related to:

99.7% of cervical cancers
Up to 90% of anal cancers
40% of vaginal and vulvar cancers
Up to 50% of penile cancers
Up to 35% of mouth and throat cancers

Regular cervical cancer screening is the best way to find abnormal cell changes in the cervix and treat them before they become cancerous.

How can you prevent cervical cancer?

Get the HPV Vaccine

Vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself against HPV. Speak to your health care provider or contact your local Public Health Office to find out if you are eligible for the HPV vaccine at no cost.

Use Condoms and Barrier Methods

Condoms and other barrier methods can reduce the risk of getting HPV, although they do not provide full protection, as HPV can be passed through further skin-to-skin contact.

Stop Smoking

Quitting smoking may help to clear lesions and decrease the risks of developing cervical or other cancers.

Limit Partners

Limiting the number of sexual partners may decrease your risk of HPV infection.

Go for Regular Screening

Regular cervical screening is one of the best ways to prevent cervical cancer so that any cell changes caused by high-risk HPV can be found and treated early.

Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical cancer screening looks for abnormal cell changes in the cervix before cancer develops. These cell changes may become cancer if left undetected and untreated. Combined Pap and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) reflex testing can find abnormal cells and better predict which cell changes will likely develop into cancer. These cell changes can be treated to stop cancer from developing.

In its earliest stages, cervical cancer often has no symptoms, which is why regular screening is so important.

Regular cervical screening is the best way to find and treat abnormal cervical cells early before they develop into cervical cancer.

What is the combined Pap and HPV reflex testing?

The Pap test and HPV reflex test can both help to prevent cervical cancer.

A Pap test is a free test done by your healthcare provider. It checks for abnormal cell changes on the cervix (the entrance to the uterus).

An instrument called a speculum is inserted into your vagina so your cervix can be seen. Then, cells are taken from the cervix and sent to a lab for assessment. Everyone going for cervical screening will get a Pap test.

An HPV reflex test checks for high-risk HPV in a Pap test sample. High-risk HPV causes most (99.7 pre cent) cervical cancer. High-risk HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix. These changes can progress over the years from precancerous cell changes into cervical cancer, if left undetected and untreated.

The lab runs a HPV reflex test automatically for people in specific age groups with certain Pap test results. The HPV result, combined with your Pap test result, helps your healthcare provider decide what follow-up you may need.

Check out Your Pap Test Appointment for more on what to expect during cervical screening.

Who should get screened?

Anyone with a cervix, including women and transgender people between the ages of 25 and 69, should be screened for cervical cancer every three years.

You should still go for regular screening if:

You are pregnant or breastfeeding;
You are going through menopause or in postmenopause;
You have ever been sexually active, even if you are not currently sexually active;
You have had the HPV vaccine; or,
You are in a same-sex relationship.

You do not need to screen if:

You have had your cervix removed for any reason (such as total hysterectomy or gender-affirming surgeries).

Contact your healthcare provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) to book your next Pap test. If you don't have a health care provider, click here to find out where to go for Pap testing.

You can stop going for regular cervical screening (Pap test) at age 69. If you are 69 years or older and unsure if you should stop screening, talk to your health care provider.

Can HPV be treated or cured?

There is currently no cure or treatment for HPV infections. Most HPV infections will go away on their own, especially in younger people. What can be treated are the signs of a HPV infection, such as warts or cervical cell changes caused by HPV.

Cervical cell changes can be treated during a colposcopy or other procedure.

Being HPV Positive

Learning that your are HPV positive can lead to a variety of feelings and raise a number of questions. First and foremost, it's important to realize that being HPV positive is nothing to be ashamed of and it does not mean you have or will develop cervical cancer.

What Happens Next?

1. See your health-care provider.

It is important to follow up with your health-care provider, who will refer you to a specialist for a colposcopy.

2. Go for a colposcopy.

A colposcopy is where a specialist exames your cervix more closely.

3. Follow up with your provider.

Discuss your colposcopy results with your health-care provider. They will explain the next steps for your care, if you need other treatment, and when you should go for your cervical screening again.