What is HPV?
Human Papillomavirus, more commonly known as HPV, is the name for a common virus that affects four out of five people in their lifetime. The virus is transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact, often but not always during sexual contact with someone who has the virus. Most people who become infected with HPV do not know they have it as it doesn’t cause any symptoms.
Most HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away by themselves within 2 years. When the immune system does not clear the HPV, it can lead to health problems such as certain types of cancer, including cervical cancer. It usually takes between 15-20 years for cervical cancer to develop after the initial HPV infection.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is a cancer that’s found anywhere in the cervix (the opening to the womb from the vagina). It’s most common in people aged between 30 and 35, but it can happen at any age. Anyone with a cervix can get cervical cancer. In females in the UK, cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer, with approximately 3,300 new cases diagnosed every year.
Symptoms of cervical cancer:
Cervical cancer in its early stages may not cause any symptoms which is why cervical screening is so important. Symptoms of cervical cancer may include:
- Vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
- Changes to your vaginal discharge including a change to smell
- Pain during sex
- Pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
These symptoms are common and can come from various other conditions, such as fibroids or endometriosis. Having symptoms does not necessarily mean you have cervical cancer, but it is important to speak to your GP if you have any concerns. Early detection increases the likelihood of successful treatment.
Risk factors for cervical cancer
Having a risk factor increases the risk of cervical cancer developing but it does not mean that you will get cancer.
Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by a persistent infection from certain high-risk types of HPV. Some other risk factors for cervical cancer are:
- You have a weakened immune system
- Smoking
- Presence of other sexually transmitted infections alongside HPV
- Family history
- You have given birth to multiple children or had children at an early age (under 17 years old)
- You’ve taken the combined oral contraceptive pill for more than 5 years (this only slightly increases your risk and for many people the benefits of taking it outweigh the risks)
- You’ve had vaginal, vulval, kidney or bladder cancer in the past
Can cervical cancer be prevented?
Nearly all cases of cervical cancer could be prevented by vaccination against HPV, routine cervical screening and early intervention. The NHS offer a National HPV vaccination and Cervical Screening programme, taking part in these programmes can be effective ways to help protect yourself from cervical cancer. You can also lower your risk of getting cervical cancer by using condoms and stopping smoking.
NHS HPV National Vaccination programme
The NHS offer a national HPV vaccination programme to help protect against certain HPV related cancers and diseases such as cervical cancer. HPV vaccination is most effective when given before any exposure to HPV viruses, so it’s recommended for 12-13 year olds when they are at school, as well as other individuals that are considered at higher risk from HPV.
Click each option below to find out more.
If you have a child aged between 12-13, your child’s school will contact you as soon as they become eligible. You will receive a consent letter, this may be a digital form, or a paper form depending on your school. If your child is home schooled, the school age immunisation service (SAIS) team will contact you directly to book an appointment at one of the community clinics.
Kids don’t need to be vaccinated against HPV because they aren’t sexually active.
Vaccination against HPV is most effective when given before any exposure to HPV viruses so it is recommended for children aged 12-13 years old.
If your child missed their vaccination when it was first offered at school, vaccination against HPV is still available on the NHS for all girls under the age of 25 and boys born after 1st September 2006. Contact your school vaccination team or GP practice for more information.
NHS National Cervical Screening programme
The NHS offer a cervical screening test that can help prevent cervical cancer. Women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 are advised to go for regular screening. You will be sent a letter in the post (your first invitation is usually 6 months before you turn 25) inviting you to make an appointment.
You can book an appointment as soon as you get a letter. Your invitation letter will tell you where you can go for cervical screening and how to book. If you missed your last cervical screening, you do not need to wait for a letter to book an appointment.
During your screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.
The sample will be checked for certain types of HPV , if high-risk types of HPV are found, the sample will also be checked for abnormal cell changes. Certain types of high-risk HPV can over time cause abnormal cell changes in the cervix. These changes may become cervical cancer if not treated.
After you have had your cervical screening, your GP or nurse will tell you when you can expect to receive a results letter which will explain if HPV was found in your sample.
HPV is not found in your sample
Most people will not have HPV (an HPV negative result). This means your risk of getting cervical cancer is very low. You do not need any further tests to check for abnormal cell changes in your cervix, even if you’ve had these in the past.
You’ll be invited for screening again in 3 or 5 years.
HPV is found in your sample
Your results letter will explain what will happen next if HPV is found in your sample (an HPV positive result).
You may need:
- another cervical screening test in 1 year
- a colposcopy to look at your cervix – this test is similar to having cervical screening, but it’s done in hospital
Early intervention
A colposcopy (a test to take a closer look at your cervix) is often done if cervical screening finds abnormal cells in your cervix caused by certain types of HPV. These cells are not cancer, but there’s a risk they could eventually turn into cervical cancer if not treated. A small sample of cells may be taken from your cervix for testing. This is called a biopsy.
Try not to worry if you are invited to have a colposcopy. It’s very rare to find cervical cancer during the procedure.
If the doctor or nurse finds abnormal cells in your cervix, they may recommend removing them. This will help reduce your risk of cervical cancer.
In rare cases, a colposcopy and biopsy will find cervical cancer. If this happens, you’ll be referred to a team of specialists to discuss treatment.
How is cervical cancer treated?
Cervical cancer is often treatable. The treatment will depend on the stage of the disease and your general health, but options usually include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
Further support
Speak to your GP practice if you have questions about cervical screening invitations, results or any symptoms you have.
I don’t need to attend screening if I’ve been vaccinated against HPV.
It is still important to attend cervical screening appointments if you have been vaccinated against HPV.
Speak to your GP Practice to learn more about cervical cancer risks, symptoms, screening and prevention
You can also find out more from the UK’s leading gynaecological cancer charity – The Eve Appeal at eveappeal. org.uk
MSD has initiated, developed, and funded the Defend Your Tomorrow campaign.
The Eve Appeal is the UK’s leading gynaecological cancer charity. MSD has reimbursed The Eve Appeal for services rendered as part of the Defend Your Tomorrow campaign but has had no editorial control of The Eve Appeal’s content, including but not limited to The Eve Appeal website.
Arsenal is a proud partner of the Defend Your Tomorrow campaign to support the NHS’s ambition of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040. Working together with partners, Arsenal will raise awareness and deliver education around North London to support NHS England’s ambition of eliminating cervical cancer, with the club able to reach and connect with some of the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach parts of our community.
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GB-NON-10974 | Date of Preparation: February 2025
