HPV Prevention
Vaccination, safer sex and screening
- The HPV vaccine protects against new infections with the HPV types it covers; it does not treat an existing infection.
- Your vaccination schedule depends on your age, vaccine history and immune status.
- Using condoms correctly and every time lowers the chance of passing HPV on, but does not give complete protection.
- Swimming pools and public toilets are not proven ways for HPV to spread.
- Cervical cancer screening continues even after vaccination.
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No method brings the chance of infection down to zero, but the vaccine, safer sex and screening can lower the risk considerably.
- Having HPV does not mean that anyone has been unfaithful. The virus can stay in the body without symptoms for months or years, and it is usually impossible to tell when it was passed on or by whom.
- HPV is not the same as AIDS. HPV and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) are two different viruses. In 9 out of 10 people, HPV goes away or becomes undetectable within about two years; HIV does not follow this course.
The role of the vaccine, the HPV test and the Pap smear in prevention and screening
Primary prevention through the HPV vaccine and safer sex lowers the chance of infection. The HPV test can also be used as the first screening test for cervical cancer; it finds high-risk types of the virus even before cell changes develop.
The Pap smear is another cervical cancer screening method and looks for abnormal changes in the cells. Depending on the screening programme and your test results, a Pap smear may be done on its own, together with an HPV test, or as a follow-up test after it.
Vaccination and screening work together: the vaccine does not treat an existing infection and does not remove the need for screening.
HPV vaccine: how many doses, and the best time to get it
Filled circles show the doses needed; a dashed circle means one more dose may be needed.
1 or 2 doses (if 2 doses are given, at least 6 months apart)
The best time to get the vaccine: before any exposure to the virus
1 or 2 doses
Vaccination is also recommended at this age
2 doses (6 months apart)
Based on your individual situation and your doctor’s advice; usually up to age 45
At least 2 doses, 3 if possible
Need more complete protection
The number of doses depends on your age at the first dose
If you had your first dose before age 21, one or two doses are usually enough. If you start vaccination at age 21 or older, two doses are usually needed.
A single-dose schedule is not right for everyone
It depends on your age, immune status, the type of vaccine and the vaccination guidelines being followed. Decide on the number of doses with your doctor.
Does the vaccine still work if you already have HPV?
The vaccine does not treat an existing infection, but it may protect you against some HPV types you have not yet been infected with. Talk to your doctor about whether the vaccine would benefit you in your situation.
Which HPV types the vaccine covers
Gardasil 9 protects against 9 types of HPV: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.
What helps lower the chance of HPV spreading?
To lower your chance of getting HPV
- Getting vaccinated at the right time
- Limiting the number of sexual partners
- Quitting smoking, to help your immune system work well
To lower the chance of passing it to your partner
- Using condoms
- Encouraging your partner to get vaccinated and examined
- Seeing a doctor if you notice a lesion (an abnormal-looking area)
How much do condoms lower the risk of HPV?
Condoms lower the chance of passing on HPV, but they do not give complete protection, because they do not cover some areas of skin. In one study, using condoms every time was linked to about a 70% lower chance of infection.
HPV prevention for men
There is no routine screening test for men. The vaccine and condoms can lower the risk of getting HPV and passing it on.
What to do in a relationship with someone who has HPV
If your partner has HPV, talk about it without blame, and see your doctor to discuss whether you need the vaccine and what follow-up is needed.
How HPV spreads, and common myths
Main routes of transmission
- Close skin contact during vaginal, anal or oral sex
- Genital skin-to-skin contact, even without penetration
- In rare cases, from mother to baby during childbirth
HPV has not been shown to spread this way
- Swimming pool and hot tub water
- Sitting on a public toilet
- Sharing towels, clothes or dishes
- Shaking hands and hugging
A positive HPV result does not mean someone cheated
HPV can stay in the body without symptoms for months or years. You can get it even if you have had sex with only one person. It is usually impossible to tell when the infection happened or who passed it on.
Cervical cancer screening: the second layer of HPV prevention
Screening with a Pap test (Pap smear; in the UK, a smear test) or an HPV test helps find cell changes early. These checks usually start between ages 21 and 25 and continue until age 65.
In standard programs, how often you are tested depends on the method chosen:
– HPV test on its own: every 5 years
– Pap test and HPV test together: every 5 years
– Pap test on its own: every 3 years
Your doctor will decide when to start, which test to use and how often to repeat it, based on your situation.
Can a supplement or a “prevention pill” replace the vaccine?
Supplements are not a substitute for the vaccine
No supplement, vitamin or “prevention pill” can replace the vaccine and screening.
A healthy lifestyle helps
Enough sleep, a balanced diet and quitting smoking support your immune system, but they do not guarantee that the infection will clear.
⚠️ Home remedies can cause harm
Putting vinegar, hair-removal paste or similar substances on a lesion can cause burns or infection. See a doctor to have warts checked and treated.
HPV prevention during pregnancy and with certain health conditions
Pregnancy and fertility
The HPV vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy. If you become pregnant between vaccine doses, the remaining doses are usually given after the pregnancy ends. Passing HPV to the baby during childbirth is rare.
Weakened immune system
If you have HIV, have had a transplant or take medicines that suppress the immune system, at least two doses of the vaccine are needed, and three if possible. Screening also needs to be followed up more closely.
Frequently asked questions about HPV prevention
Do sugar and sweets feed the virus?
No. This belief has no scientific basis. A balanced diet supports your general health, but no particular food feeds HPV.
Is HPV the same as AIDS?
No. HPV and HIV are two different viruses. In 9 out of 10 people, HPV goes away or becomes undetectable within about two years; HIV does not follow this course.
Can the HPV vaccine cause cancer or side effects?
The HPV vaccine does not cause cancer, and its safety and effectiveness have been studied. If you have a history of allergies or a particular medical condition, talk to your doctor before the injection.
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