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HPV

HPV is common — vaccination and screening can help protect you from cancer.

Learn more about HPV

Key Summary

  • What it is: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus — around 90% of Australians will get it in their lifetime.
  • Types: Over 100 types exist; some cause genital warts (low-risk), while others can lead to cancers (high-risk).
  • Symptoms: Most people don’t notice symptoms; low-risk types may cause warts, while high-risk types can cause long-term cell changes.
  • How it spreads: Through skin-to-skin and intimate sexual contact, even without symptoms.
  • Prevention:
  • Vaccination: Gardasil 9 protects against the most common cancer-causing strains; given free to students aged 12–13.
  • Cervical screening: Recommended every 5 years for people aged 25–74 to detect early cell changes.
  • Condoms: Reduce but don’t fully prevent HPV spread.
  • Safety: HPV vaccines are safe and effective, with mostly mild and temporary side effects.
  • Treatment: Genital warts and abnormal cervical cells can be treated; early detection prevents most HPV-related cancers.

About HPV

HPV is a common virus which can affect anyone, regardless of gender. Around 90% of Australians will get human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lives.1 HPV can cause genital warts in some people, and different types of HPV can cause cell changes that can lead to cancers.2 These include cancers of the cervix, genital area, anus, mouth, and throat.3

There are over 100 types of HPV, they vary according to the site of infection. Depending on their ability to cause cancer, the HPV types are classified as low risk or high risk.

In Australia, the HPV vaccine is routinely available for young people in high school.

The Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation has an awareness program called HPV & Me which empowers high school students with preventive strategies to reduce the health risks associated with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). See the program here, including Teacher information and Student FAQs

HPV Symptoms

Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and are cleared naturally from the body in one to two years.

Low risk genital HPV types (including types 6 and 11) can cause genital warts. Genital warts do not cause cancer. Infections caused by these HPV types are usually cleared from the body within a short time.

High risk types (including types 16 and 18) have a higher risk of significant cell changes which can progress to cancer if not discovered and treated. Infections with these HPV types remain in the body for a long time. HPV related cancers can take up to ten years to develop.

How HPV Spreads

HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact via tiny breaks in the skin. Genital HPV is spread through intimate genital contact.[4] You can be exposed to HPV as soon as you become sexually active even with just one partner. People with HPV infection may not realise they have it and can continue spreading it to others.

People with multiple sexual partners are at increased risk of developing HPV.

It is not very common but sometimes during pregnancy, HPV may be passed on to the newborn child. The child could develop a dangerous condition where warts develop inside the throat. [5]

HPV Complications

Oral and upper respiratory lesions

Some HPV infections cause lesions (wounds) of the tongue, tonsils, soft palate (back part of the roof of the mouth), or within the larynx (voice box) and nose.

Cancer

Certain strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer. These strains may also contribute to cancers of the genitals, anus and upper respiratory tract (nose, mouth, throat and voice box). [6]

HPV Prevention

Vaccination

Two HPV vaccines are registered for use in Australia:

Gardasil 9

Gardasil 9 includes the HPV types covered by Gardasil (6, 11, 16 and 18) plus an additional five cancer producing HPV types (31, 33, 45, 52 and 58).7 These five HPV types cause an additional 15% of all cervical cancers above those caused by HPV 16 and 18.8

Gardasil 9, HPV vaccine is free at school for all males and females aged 12-13 years through the National Immunisation Program. This is the best time to vaccinate before individuals become sexually active.

If individuals have become sexually active and they have been infected with any of the nine types of HPV then vaccination will be less effective in reducing cancers and other diseases.

This age group also has an improved immune response to the vaccine compared to older teenagers.9 Gardasil 9 is registered for males and females 9-45 years of age.

Cervarix

Cervarix protects against HPV 16 and 18. It is registered for females aged 10-45 years of age and is available on private prescription.

Cervical Screening

The best way to prevent cervical cancer is to have the HPV vaccine at 12-13 years of age and then regular pap tests from 18 years of age or two years after first sexual activity whichever comes later. Cervical screenings can detect abnormal cells before they become cancerous so that they can be treated.

The National Cervical Screening Program includes a five yearly human papillomavirus (HPV) test for people aged 25 to 74 years. [10]

Self-collection:

All cervical screening participants now have the option to self-collect their own Cervical Screening Test sample. A self-collected sample is taken from the vagina and is checked for HPV. Click here for more information. 

Condoms

Condoms offer some but not complete protection against HPV as they do not cover all parts of the genital area.

Vaccine safety

Immunisation against HPV is safe and effective. Side effects after immunisation are usually mild and transient (occurring in the first few days after vaccination). Side effects may include: pain, swelling and redness around the injection site, mild fever, headache or nausea. [11]

The World Health Organization’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has conducted multiple reviews of the safety of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines since their introduction in 2006. By 2017, over 270 million doses had been distributed worldwide. Early assessments identified rare instances of anaphylaxis, estimated at approximately 1.7 cases per million doses, and common occurrences of syncope (fainting) related to anxiety or stress from the injection. No other significant adverse reactions have been identified, leading GACVS to consider HPV vaccines extremely safe.[12]

HPV Treatment

Treatments are available for genital warts and for abnormal cells of the cervix.

More HPV Information

For more information for parents, teens, schools and healthcare professionals see here.

References

1. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS). HPV Factsheet. 2023. Available from: https://ncirs.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/HPV%20Factsheet%20May%202023.pdf (Accessed 19 June 2024)

2. Queensland Health. Genital warts (human papilloma virus [HPV]). Queensland Government. Available from: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/condition/infections-and-parasites/sexually-transmissible-infections/genital-warts-human-papilloma-virus-hpv (Accessed 19 June 2024.)

3. Victoria State Government Better Health Channel Human Papillomavirus Fact Sheet https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/human-papillomavirus-hpv-immunisation Reviewed 05 May 2023)

4. Cancer Council Australia What is HPV last updated May 2017 https://cancer.org.au/what-is-hpv (Accessed 19 June)

5. Tasca RA, Clarke RW. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2006;91:689-91.

6. Mayo Clinic Diseases and Conditions HPV infection Diagnosis and Treatment 15 May 2021 (Accessed 29 August 2021)

7. Australian Government of Australia Immunize Australia Program About Immunization Human Papilloma Virus (page last update 29 September 2019)

8. Australian Government Department of Health Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) Clinical Practice Introduction of Gardasil 9 in a 2-Dose Schedule Under the School-Based National Immunisation Program (NIP) 18 December 2017

9. Reisinger KS, Block SL, Lazcano-Ponce E, et al. Safety and persistent immunogenicity of a quadrivalent human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16, 18 L1 virus-like particle vaccine in preadolescents and adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2007;26:201-9.

10.    Australian Government Department of Health National Cervical Screening Program (page last updated 19 January 2021)

11.    Lu B, Kumar A, Castellsagué X, Giuliano AR. Efficacy and safety of prophylactic vaccines against cervical HPV infection and diseases among women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases 2011;11:13.

12.    World Health Organization. Safety of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines [Internet]. Geneva (CH): WHO; 2024 [cited 2024 Nov 21]. Available from: https://www.who.int/groups/global-advisory-committee-on-vaccine-safety/topics/human-papillomavirus-vaccines/safety