HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is a common infection which is passed on through skin to skin contact. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) nearly everyone, in the world, in their lifetime will get a type of HPV. Most people clear it from their body in 1-2 years.
We have good, evidence based information about it on our website, you can see it here
There are many types of HPV. Some types of HPV can cause the cells on a cervix to become abnormal. Abnormal cells can over time develop into cancer. So the NHS Cervical Screening Programme now looks to see if someone has HPV, if they have then their cervical cells are checked to see if they are abnormal. Getting any type of HPV does not mean anyone has been promiscuous or is dirty, as I have said it is a common infection.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection transferred by skin to skin genital contact and unfortunately that’s just a fact. However, almost every person who has ever been sexually active will have come into contact with it although most will never know they have it. You only know you have it if you test positive for it during cervical screening, but testing negative doesn’t mean you don’t have it-it just means the virus is not active at the time of the test. It’s not something which has a cure, and there is no test for men, but there is no reason at all to feel dirty. That just increases the stigma around the virus, and makes women in particular feel ashamed when there is no reason to feel that way. Having HPV does not mean promiscuity or cheating in a relationship-you can get it from having sexual contact with one person who has had sexual contact with someone else previously. I have never been told I have HPV, but I have had cancer caused by it so I know I carry the virus. There really is no need to feel it’s something dirty.
