Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that infects the skin and mucosa. HPV infections are primarily transmitted through direct skin or mucosal contact including during sexual activity.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that infects the skin and mucosa. HPV infections are primarily transmitted through direct skin or mucosal contact including during sexual activity. HPV infections can occur in the cervix, anus, external genitals such as the penis or vulva, or internal genitals such as the vagina, as well as some parts of the mouth and throat. There are over 40 different types of HPV that can cause infections in these areas.
Some types of HPV cause genital warts. Other types of HPV are more serious and may cause cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina or internal genitals, penis or external genitals and surrounding area, vulva, and mouth and throat. This page has information only about HPV types that may cause cancer.
HPV is common in British Columbia and can be managed.
Most HPV infections do not have symptoms. High-risk HPV type infections can lead to changes to infected cells in the body. If these changes aren’t found or treated, they can turn into pre-cancer or cancer over time, causing symptoms like unusual bleeding, lumps, or pain.
Sexual transmission of HPV typically occurs through vaginal, oral, and anal sexual contact. This includes both penetrative sex and sexual activities where there is skin-to-skin contact. You can also get HPV by sharing sex toys. If you have HPV, you can pass it to others even if you don’t have symptoms.
Most types of HPV do not cause any health problems. However, some types of HPV can cause changes in your cells that can lead to several types of cancer. Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer caused by HPV.
Anyone with a cervix between the ages of 25-69 should be screened for cervical cancer every 3 years.
If you have receptive anal sex, or are living with HIV, some health professionals may recommend that you have regular anal Pap tests. Talk to your health care provider to determine what’s best for you.
Most HPV infections go away on their own and do not need treatment. If an HPV infection persists, there are different ways that the cancerous changes in the cells can be treated, depending on how severe the changes are.
For more information about cervical screening and test results, visit, BC Cancer’s
Results page.
The HPV vaccine (Gardasil®9) is provided free to eligible people in BC. The vaccine protects against infection from 9 types of HPV that can cause various cancers and genital warts. The vaccine protects against 7 types of HPV that can cause cancer of the anus, cervix, mouth and throat, penis, vagina and vulva. The vaccine also protects against 2 types of HPV that cause genital warts.
It is important for people who have a cervix to follow current BC cervical screening guidelines because the HPV vaccine protects against most but not all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.
The risk of infection increases with the number of sexual partners and having unprotected sex. While using a condom protects against HPV infections, condoms cannot cover all the skin surfaces around the genitals and the anus and therefore does not guarantee complete protection against HPV. It is a good idea to be tested regularly for STIs, especially if you have new sexual partners or open relationships.
For more information on who should get cervical screening, talk to your primary care provider and visit:
Who Should Get Screened? (BC Cancer).
The HPV vaccine (Gardasil®9) is provided free to eligible people in BC. The vaccine protects against infection from 9 types of HPV that can cause various cancers and genital warts. The vaccine protects against 7 types of HPV that can cause cancer of the anus, cervix, mouth and throat, penis, vagina and vulva. The vaccine also protects against 2 types of HPV that cause genital warts.
It is important for people who have a cervix to follow current BC cervical screening guidelines because the HPV vaccine protects against most but not all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.
The risk of infection increases with the number of sexual partners and having unprotected sex. While using a condom protects against HPV infections, condoms cannot cover all the skin surfaces around the genitals and the anus, and therefore does not guarantee complete protection against HPV. It is a good idea to be tested regularly for STIs, especially if you have new sexual partners or open relationships.
For more information on who should get cervical screening, talk to your primary care provider and visit:
Who Should Get Screened? (BC Cancer).
