Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common viral infection. Here's what you need to know, including the remarkable story of how a vaccine is helping to eliminate some cancers caused by HPV entirely.
What is HPV?
There are more than 100 types of HPV. The virus affects the skin and mucous membranes - places like the mouth, throat, vagina, and anus. Most people will encounter some type of HPV during their lifetime. The vast majority who catch the infection will never know, because for most people it causes no symptoms and clears on its own.
However, some strains are more concerning. Certain ‘high-risk’ types of HPV can cause abnormal cell changes that, over time, may develop into cancer. These include cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, vulval and vaginal cancer, and some cancers of the mouth and throat. Low-risk types - while not linked to cancer – can cause genital warts.
HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, most commonly during sexual activity. You do not need to have penetrative sex to contract it, and you can get it the very first time you're sexually active. Condoms offer some protection, but because they don't cover all the skin around the genitals, they cannot eliminate the risk entirely.
How effective is the vaccine?
The HPV vaccine used in the UK is Gardasil 9, which protects against 9 types of the virus. These include types 16 and 18 - responsible for around 75% of all cervical cancers - as well as 5 additional high-risk types. The vaccine also protects against types 6 and 11, which cause roughly 90% of genital warts.
Since the vaccine was introduced, rates of cervical cancer and genital warts among young people have fallen dramatically. Research published in the Lancet found that there were no deaths from cervical cancer between 2020 and 2024 among women aged 20 to 24 who had received the HPV vaccine at school. Vaccine coverage in this cohort was around 88% to 90%. Based on historical rates, 23 deaths would have been expected during this period, representing a 100% reduction in mortality.
Earlier cohorts, vaccinated with slightly lower coverage, also saw dramatic reductions - 80% fewer deaths in some age groups. In total, HPV vaccination in England is estimated to have prevented around 200 cervical cancer deaths up to the end of 2024.
This is genuinely historic. A vaccine is, for practical purposes, eliminating deaths from cervical cancer in young women. But we cannot afford to be complacent. In recent years uptake rates for HPV vaccination among girls and boys have fallen compared to rates seen before the pandemic, and we know that there are variations in the proportion of young people taking up the vaccine depending on where they are and the circumstances in which they live. There is a risk of growing numbers of young people missing out on the vital protection that the HPV vaccine provides.
Importantly, even if you have been vaccinated, you should still attend cervical screening appointments if you are eligible. The vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV, so screening remains an important safety net and one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
Who can have the vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is recommended and available free on the NHS to several groups:
- all children aged 12 to 13 (school year 8) are offered the vaccine through school-age immunisation services. If you or your child missed it at that age, it can still be accessed for free. Girls aged 24 and under, and boys born after 1 September 2006 aged 24 and under, can contact their school nurse, school vaccination team, or GP practice to catch up. It is ideal to get vaccinated before your first sexual contact because this helps protect you before potential exposure to the virus.
- gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are at higher risk from HPV and can get vaccinated free at sexual health or HIV clinics up until their 46th birthday. The vaccine is also available for some other groups at high risk of infection, including sex workers, people living with HIV, and transgender people assessed to have a similar risk profile.
Most people who are eligible can have the vaccine. The only people who cannot are those who have previously had a serious allergic reaction to a dose of the vaccine or one of its ingredients.
Younger people typically need just one dose, while those aged 25 to 45 usually need 2 doses given several months apart. People with a weakened immune system may require 3 doses.
What are the side effects of the HPV vaccine?
Side effects from the HPV vaccine are generally mild and short-lived. The most common ones are soreness, swelling, or redness where the injection was given - the kind of reaction many people experience with any vaccine. Some people also report a headache, mild fever, dizziness, nausea, or tiredness in the day or two after their dose.
Serious side effects are very rare. As with all vaccines, there is a small risk of a severe allergic reaction, but the healthcare professionals administering the vaccine are trained to recognise and treat this immediately.
A generation protected
The HPV vaccine represents one of the great success stories of modern public health. If you're unsure whether you or someone in your family is up to date, speak to your GP or visit a sexual health clinic.