Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus - so common that 4 in 5 people will be infected with it at some point in their lives. Of the more than 200 strains of the virus, the majority will clear without you ever knowing that you had HPV. However, a few strains, called high-risk HPV, can cause genital warts or go on to cause cancer, including cervical, anal, penile, vaginal and vulval cancers, as well as cancers of the head and neck like throat and mouth cancers. An HPV vaccine is now offered to all children aged 12-13 in the UK. Getting vaccinated significantly reduces your risk of developing these cancers.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/news-and-features/why-is-there-still-stigma-around-hpv