It’s HPV Awareness Day and never has it been more important to be aware of HPV, the vaccinations available and the importance of having your smear test.
What is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) refers to a common type of virus which affects your skin and moist membranes lining parts of your body such as the mouth, throat and genital area like the cervix, vagina, penis and anus. There are around 100 different types of HPV, most are harmless, but certain types can cause genital warts and potentially lead to cervical cancer.
[Watch: My First Smear Test – Video]
How is HPV spread?
HPV is trasmitted during sex, or skin to skin contact with the genitals.
How does the HPV vaccine work? The HPV vaccine is given as an injection of Gardasil 9 in the right arm. Gardasil 9 then immunises against 9 types of HPV.
[Read: The Importance of Having Your Smear Test]Is the HPV vaccine for men and women?
The HPV can be given to both men and women. Under the current NHS vaccination programme, Gardsil is offered to boys and girls in Year 8 (which is what I was fortunate enough to receive), to girls as part of a catch up scheme up until their 26th birthday and to men aged under 45 who have sex with men.
The virus can be caught and spread by men and women. Genital warts is experienced by men and women and it is important to remember that while HPV is often associated with cervical cancer (which only affects women, or transgender men with a cervix), it can also cause cancers of the anus, penis, throat and mouth.
Does the HPV vaccine only protect against cervical cancer? No, the HPV vaccine can also protect against anal, penile, throat and mouth cancers. The strains 6 and 11 of the HPV virus are a common cause of genital warts, so the vaccine can also protect against this STI.
Even if you have had the vaccination, it’s super important that you have your smear test as soon as you’re invited. The smear test will be able to identify if there are any abnormal cells which could develop into cancer.
[Read: Please Go Save Your Life | Smear Test Attendance At All Time Low]What’s the age limit for getting a HPV vaccine? The reason few adults get the vaccine is because they are likely to have already been exposed to HPV through sex. Gardasil 9 can only protect and not treat HPV. However there is no upper age limit, but getting the vaccine from age 11 is recommended. You can request vaccination through the Online Doctor if you are aged 18 and over. LloydsPharmacy stores can vaccinate those aged 12-45 only.
For more information head to the Lloyds Pharmacy website.
This post was in collaboration with
