What to do in case of HPV infection?

The most important facts in brief 

• Transmission: HPV is transmitted sexually - infection can occur during the first sexual contact.
• Course: 90% of HPV infections are asymptomatic and heal on their own within two years.
• HPV types: HPV viruses are divided into low-risk types, which can cause warts in the genital and oral areas, and high-risk types, which can cause precancerous lesions - especially cervical cancer.
• Diagnosis: Both the Pap smear and the HPV test examine cell changes on the cervix; alternatively, there is a blood test.
• Treatment: There is no drug against HPV; for low-risk types, the warts are treated, and high-risk types must be observed so that precancerous lesions can be removed early.
• Prophylaxis: HPV vaccination offers protection against the most dangerous HPV types; condoms do not reliably protect against infection.

Definition: HPV - What is it?

HPV is the abbreviation for human papillomavirus and refers to a group of viruses that are sexually transmitted. There are more than 200 different types of HPV. Most of them are harmless and do not show any symptoms during infection. An HPV infection does not automatically mean that you will get sick: 90% of infections heal by themselves within two years. However, if the infection does not clear up on its own, it is called a persistent infection. 

Depending on the HPV type with which the affected person has been infected, genital warts or precancerous lesions can develop - if these are not treated, they can develop into malignant tumours. So-called low-risk types are responsible for the harmless but annoying warts (also called genital warts), while high-risk types increase the risk of cervical cancer and other types of cancer - especially in the genital area and in the mouth and throat. At least 14 of the currently known HPV types increase the risk of cancer.

Frequency

Human papillomaviruses are very widespread: 85-90% of sexually active people become infected at least once in their lifetime. HPV occurs most frequently in sexually active people under 25.  

Causes: HPV and sexuality

The human papillomavirus is primarily transmitted from person to person through direct contact. In contrast to other viral infections, HPV is not usually passed on via droplet or smear infection through body fluids, but through direct skin or mucous membrane contact. Even tiny skin flakes are sufficient for infection. The viruses find their way into the body through tiny cracks that are often not visible or noticeable. You can be repeatedly infected with HPV. 

The risk of infection is particularly high during sexual activities with a lot of physical contact:

• Petting
• Vaginal intercourse
• Anal sex
• Oral sex

Human papillomaviruses can also be transmitted through kissing; however, the risk is lower.

Do I have to tell my partner?

If you know that you are HPV positive, you should also inform your partner so that they can be tested accordingly. If you are a high-risk type, regular screening is important so that precancerous lesions can be detected and treated early. 

How long is HPV contagious?

HPV is contagious for as long as an infection exists - in most cases for a maximum of two years. In concrete terms, this means that even if you do not notice the HPV infection, you can still infect your sexual partners with HPV. 

Transmission at birth

It is especially important to know for women who are HPV-positive during pregnancy: Human papillomaviruses can also be transmitted to the newborn during birth. In a Canadian study, more than 1,000 pregnant women were examined for this. In about 40% of the participants, the vaginal smear was HPV-positive. Two-thirds of the HPV-positive women were infected with at least one high-risk type. However, only about 7% of newborns were HPV-positive by the third month of life. After six months, no more HP viruses could be detected in the babies. These results show that transmission to the baby at birth is not permanent. So the birth does not necessarily have to be by caesarean section.

Symptoms

HPV infections usually pass without symptoms or health problems in people with a functioning immune system. The infection usually heals on its own within one to two years. Many infected people therefore do not even know that they are HPV-positive. However, if the immune system cannot defend itself sufficiently against the viruses, different symptoms occur depending on the HPV type.

Human papillomaviruses are divided into two types:

• Low-risk types
• High-risk types

Low-risk HPV types (Low Risk)

With low-risk HPV types, symptoms can occur in both men and women in the form of genital warts - also called genital warts or condylomata in technical language. These pin-sized, flat warts with an uneven surfaces are perceived as unpleasant and disturbing, but they are benign and therefore harmless. Genital warts are not always visible or noticeable. They can be only a few millimetres small or several centimetres large and take on a reddish, whitish or brownish colour. Depending on their location and size, they can cause itching or burning. 

Genital warts usually occur in the genital area at the vagina, penis or anus. However, it is also possible for them to develop in the mouth and throat area. Genital warts can appear alone or in small groups - like a kind of skin rash. They are extremely contagious and should not be touched by your partner.

About 1% of the population suffers from genital warts. They occur mainly in sexually active people under 25. Overall, about one in ten people is affected by genital warts in the course of their lives. The HPV types that most commonly cause warts are HPV 6 and HPV 11, so if you notice small growths in the genital or throat area, this could be a sign of HPV and you should have it checked by a GP, gynaecologist, urologist or ear, nose and throat specialist.

Infection with a low-risk HPV type does not increase your risk of cancer. 

Incubation period

Genital warts usually form about two to three months after infection. However, they can appear as early as two weeks or as late as after eight months. 

What is the difference to Herpes?

Herpes - both cold sores and genital herpes - is also transmitted by viruses. A herpes infection can also proceed without symptoms. In contrast to the HPV-typical genital warts, painful, fluid-filled blisters form in the intimate area in the case of herpes, which empty themselves and form crusts. 

While HPV-related warts can also form in the mouth and throat area after transmission through oral sex, herpes in the mouth usually only occurs in young children.

What is herpes and what can you do about it?

High-risk HPV types (High Risk)

The most dangerous type of HPV is HPV type 16 - followed by type 18. These types of human papillomavirus like to attach themselves to the cervix between the cervix and the vagina in women. If the viruses remain in the body for a long time and cannot be destroyed by the immune system, this is called a persistent infection, from which first tissue changes (dysplasia) and later a malignant tumour can develop. In the case of cervical cancer, about 10% of HPV-infected people with persistent infection develop a precancerous lesion within three to six years. If left untreated, 30-50% of the precancerous lesions will develop into a malignant tumour in the cervix within 10 to 30 years. 

HPV high-risk types can trigger the development of the following cancers in men and women:

• Cervical cancer
• Anus cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Penile cancer
• Throat cancer (for example tonsil cancer and palate cancer)
• Laryngeal cancer
• Tongue cancer (especially at the back of the tongue)

Women are affected much more frequently than men: according to the World Health Organisation, HPV infections cause 5% of all cancers worldwide, with an estimated 625,600 women and 69,400 men getting HPV-related cancer each year.

For women in the UK, there are 3,197 new diagnoses of cervical cancer every year, and although the fatality rate is decreasing year-on-year, in 2022 681 women died. In men, around 60% of penile cancer cases are caused by HPV infection and 91% of anal cancers, which can affect men and women, are caused by high-risk HPV.

Diagnosis: How HPV is detected

Since HPV rarely causes symptoms and therefore often goes undetected, most cases are noticed during screening examinations for women, which are recommended by the National Health Service (NHS). Men often only find out that they are infected when they notice genital warts or are informed by a sexual partner that they might be infected. Regular check-ups or screenings are not provided for men in the UK. 

Early detection via Cervical Screening

During Cervical Screening (Smear Test), cells are taken from the mucous membrane of the cervix and the outer edge of the cervix and examined in order to detect cell changes as early as possible. In the UK, all women aged 25 to 64 are invited by letter to cervical screening to check the overall health of their cervix. 

It's crucial to note that Cervical Screening is not a test for cancer, it is a test to help prevent cancer. During the test, a small sample of cells will be taken from the cervix to then be tested for certain types of human papillomavirus which can cause changes to the cells in the cervix. 

If the results do not detect any types of "high-risk" HPV, no further tests will be required. However, if these types of HPV are found, the sample is then checked for any changes in the cells of the cervix, these can then be treated before they get the chance to turn into cervical cancer.

Do not forget the mouth area

If the HPV viruses have triggered a tumour in the throat and mouth area, it may be discovered by chance during a regular dental check-up or an ENT examination. Tumours in the throat area often only reveal themselves at an advanced stage. So if you have tested positive for HPV, you should also have regular check-ups with your GP.

Treatment: HPV positive - What to do?

Being diagnosed as HPV positive does not mean that you have cervical cancer or any other type of cancer. It just means that you may be at increased risk and that you should have regular check-ups to detect possible cell changes early. 

HPV cannot yet be cured with medication; however, in 90% of cases, treatment is not necessary because the infection clears up on its own. In the case of persistent infections, the symptoms must be kept in mind and treated. Important: Before you panic at an HPV diagnosis with a high-risk type, you should consider that a healthy immune system also manages to cure high-risk HPV and only a fraction of those affected form precancerous lesions.

Genital warts

As already discussed, low-risk types can develop genital genital warts and rarely oral genital warts. In one-third of those affected, these warts heal on their own within a few months, even without treatment. 

A visual diagnosis by a GP, gynaecologist, urologist or dermatologist is usually sufficient to diagnose genital warts. Your doctor will then suggest a suitable treatment. For example, there are solutions, creams, ointments or suppositories that you can use at home over a period of several weeks. Alternatively, doctors can remove the warts. This can be done with a fine spoon, surgical scissors or a laser, or alternatively by icing or cauterising. Which treatment is suitable in each individual case depends on the nature of the warts, where they are exactly located and how far they have spread.

Precancerous lesions and cancer

Since the high-risk types can trigger cell changes that can lead to cancer if left untreated, regular check-ups are the best protection. If precancerous cells do form, they can usually be easily removed. This prevents the development of a malignant tumour in the first place. 

Natural remedies against HPV

If you want to get rid of HPV faster with natural remedies, you should add shiitake mushrooms to your diet. They contain an active ingredient complex called Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), which is supposed to fight human papillomaviruses and even shrink cervical cancer. Studies in the USA and Korea have come to this conclusion. The active ingredient strengthens the immune system and stimulates the regeneration of natural killer cells so that the body can better defend itself against the virus infection. AHCC is also available as a dietary supplement that can be used as a supportive measure in cancer therapy alongside conventional treatment. 

Prevention: How do I protect myself from HPV?

The gold standard for preventing HPV infections (and thus reducing malignant tumours caused by HPV) is considered to be vaccination in combination with visiting your GP if you spot any abnormal lumps or bumps. A healthy lifestyle with a vitamin-rich diet can also prevent HPV infection. 

HPV vaccination

Researchers based at King's College London, the UK Health Security Agency and the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service collectively estimated that the HPV vaccination programme has prevented around 450 cervical cancers and around 17,200 cases of precancerous conditions over an 11-year period. In the UK, the HPV vaccine protects against the main cancer-causing strains of the virus, HPV 16 and 18. The vaccine helps to prevent abnormal changes in the cervical cells, in turn leading to fewer cases of cervical cancer. Previous results have also confirmed that the HPV vaccination is effective in preventing HPV infection, genital warts and high-grade precancerous cell changes in the cervix. 

Vaccine

In the UK, the NHS recommends the HPV vaccine for children aged 12 to 13 years old, as well as other people at higher risk from HPV. All children aged 12 to 13 are offered the HPV vaccine, which is normally administered at school. If you missed getting vaccinated when you were 12 or 13, the HPV vaccine is available for free on the NHS for women under the age of 25 as well as men born after 1st September 2006. 

As well as being recommended for children, the HPV vaccine is also recommended for men who have sex with men as there is a higher risk of HPV. Men under the age of 45 can receive the HPV vaccine at sexual health clinics across the UK. 

HPV vaccination for adults after infection

Experts recommend that women who have already developed cell changes should also be vaccinated against HPV before or after diagnosis because there are indications that the vaccination also protects against the recurrence of precancerous lesions.

Possible side effects of vaccination

The most common side effects of the HPV vaccine are mild and do not last long. These can include swelling or pain where the injection was administered, headache, aches in the body, dizziness, sickness and tiredness. The HPV vaccine used in the UK contains a killed (destroyed) version of the HPV virus, so there's no risk of getting HPV from the vaccine.

HPV despite vaccination?

The vaccinations only protect against the HPV types mentioned above. Since there are more than 200 HPV types in total, it is quite possible for people to become infected with HPV despite vaccination. If the person concerned already had a persistent infection before the vaccination, it will persist because the vaccination does not have a curative but only a preventive effect. 

Do condoms protect against HPV?

Although condoms protect against other sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, they do not provide sufficient protection against HPV. This is because the human papillomavirus is transmitted through direct contact between skin and mucous membranes and not through body fluids such as semen or saliva. If parts of the skin touch the mucous membrane, infection can still occur - even if the direct contact is only brief. 

So it's not possible to protect yourself completely from HPV unless you want to be completely abstinent - which is understandably not an option for most people.

Nutrition

A well-functioning immune system usually copes well with HPV viruses and can even prevent the viruses from entering - there are already numerous studies on this. Folic acid - also known as vitamin B9 - is said to protect against HPV infection and increase the likelihood that HPV-related cell changes will disappear. In another study, scientists found that women who ate tomatoes frequently had a lower risk of cervical cancer than women who avoided tomatoes. A Korean study found that vitamin C deficiency increases the incidence of precancerous HPV. In addition, vitamin E is said to reduce the incidence of precancerous cervical lesions.

The following foods should be on your menu if you want to protect yourself from HPV infection:

• Green leafy vegetables and pulses (folates)
• Tomatoes, pink grapefruits, papayas (lycopene)
• Bell peppers, green & Brussels sprouts, broccoli, citrus fruits, kiwi (vitamin C)
• Wheat germ oil, olive oil, hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds (vitamin E)
• Shiitake mushrooms (AHCC)

Regular check-ups

In addition to the regular check-ups with your GP and cervical screenings mentioned above, you should also visit your dentist regularly so that possible precancerous lesions in the mouth can be detected and treated at an early stage.