Human Papilloma Virus

Transcription

1 Human Papilloma Virus What is HPV and how is it spread? HPV stands for Human Papilloma [Pap-ilo-mah] Virus. It is a very common virus that infects humans. There are over 100 types of HPV. HPV is spread by genital skin-to-skin contact during any sexual activity Most of the time, HPV infections don't cause any problems. Sometimes, infections can cause problems. What problems can they cause? Some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Other types are more dangerous and can cause changes that lead to cancer. Four types of HPV are mainly responsible for genital warts and cancer: HPV type 6 and HPV type 11 cause 90% of genital warts. HPV type 16 and HPV type 18 cause most HPV linked cancers.

2 Genital Warts What are genital warts? Genital warts vary in shape and size, but they are usually small, fleshy cauliflower like bumps. You may have one bump or a group of bumps. Where do genital warts develop? In men, genital warts usually develop on the outer skin of the penis. Sometimes they develop inside the anus. Rarely, they can grow in the mouth or nose. Genital warts are rarely painful. Can genital warts be removed or treated? Yes. Genital warts can be treated in many ways. You can either have a small surgery to remove them or they can be treated with sprays and creams. They can take up to 4 weeks to go away after treatment. They may need to be treated more than once as sometimes they come back. Stopping smoking may improve how well you respond to treatment. Another option is to leave them alone, as they will often go away by themselves. If you think you have genital warts, tell your GP. They will need to look at them to be sure. Avoid all sexual contact till they have completely cleared. Do genital warts cause cancer? No. The types of HPV that cause genital warts do not cause cancer, and so genital warts will never turn into cancer.

3 Anal Cancer What type of cancer does HPV cause? HPV infections can cause cancer of the mouth, throat, penis and more frequently, the anus % of s are linked to an HPV infection. Anal cancer is a rare form of cancer. Some men, however, are at a high risk. These men are: Men who have HIV Men who receive anal sex from other men Men who smoke Does cause symptoms? Sometimes, but not always. Important things that you should tell your GP about include: a change in your bowels, the presence or feeling of a lump, any anal discharge, bleeding, or sores that do not heal. To be sure, your GP may want to: Perform a rectal exam. This is when a gloved finger is used to feel for changes in your back passage. Refer you for an anal smear test. This is when a small brush is inserted into the anus. This brush collects cells, which are looked at under a microscope for cancer cells.

4 Prevention and Vaccines What can I do to protect myself? Decreasing the number of sexual partners you have will decrease the chances of you getting HPV. Using condoms and dental dams during all sexual activity is the best way to protect yourself against HPV, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Have regular sexual heath checks. If you get genital warts, your sexual partner(s) should also have a sexual health check. Knowing your HIV status is important as you are at a higher chance of getting. Quitting smoking decreases your chances of getting. Is there a vaccine? Yes. The vaccine is safe and protects against the 4 types of HPV that can cause genital warts and cancer. Currently, under the NHS, it is only available to girls and young women, but this may change: UK experts have recently said it should also be given to some men who are high risk - like men who have sex with men. For now, men can receive the vaccine privately from private sexual health clinics.

5 Contact and More Information If you want more information about HPV, the vaccine or anything else discussed in this leaflet, please visit the following websites: and For more information about getting the vaccine from private sexual health clinics, discuss this with your GP. If you live in Manchester and would like a sexual health check, get in touch with us at The Docs - you can have one here even if you are not registered with us! The Docs: Tel: cmccg.thedocs@nhs.net Website: thedocsmanchester.co.uk Designed by Neal Ramchander