More commonly known as HPV, it’s estimated that 85 per cent of people who have been sexually active will contract human papillomavirus at some stage in their life.
Yet despite how common it is, there’s still plenty of confusion – and stigma – surrounding the virus. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is HPV?
HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus, spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact.
There are different types of HPV – some are considered low-risk and others high-risk. According to the Cancer Council, low-risk HPV types can cause genital warts, but not cancer. While HPV is usually harmless and goes away on its own, in some cases, certain high-risk strains can cause cell changes that lead to cancer, especially cervical cancer.
The good news is, we’re leading the way when it comes to tackling HPV. The world’s first vaccine was developed in Australia by immunologist Professor Ian Frazer and his team, and we’re on track to become the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035.
Do I need to get the HPV vaccine?
It’s recommended that the HPV vaccine be given to children at age 12–13, before they’re likely to be exposed to the virus.
The current vaccine, Gardasil, protects against nine types, including the seven responsible for around 90 per cent of cervical cancers.
Until recently, the vaccine was given in two doses, spaced six months apart. But in 2023, Australia moved to one-dose for those under 20, based on evidence showing a single dose offers comparable protection.
If you missed the vaccine at school, free catch-up doses are available for anyone under 26. The vaccine is still safe and effective for people aged 27 to 45, particularly if you haven’t been previously exposed to the virus, although it won’t be free. This goes for males, too. While men can’t get cervical cancer, they can contract and pass on the virus, and are at risk of developing other HPV-related cancers.
How effective is the HPV vaccine?
Very. According to the World Health Organisation, HPV vaccination programs in countries like Australia have led to a dramatic reduction in infections, genital warts and pre-cancerous cervical changes.
Modelling from the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) suggests cervical cancer could be eliminated in this country within a decade, with incidence expected to drop below four cases per 100,000 women by 2035.
As of 2023, 85.9 per cent of Australian girls and 83.4 per cent of boys aged 15 had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Experts have recently voiced concern that while the numbers are strong, uptake has dipped since the pandemic disrupted school-based vaccination programs.
“We’re going in the wrong direction,” Frank Beard, associate director of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), told the ABC.
“HPV vaccine coverage has decreased year on year for the last four years so that we’re now back to where we were around a decade ago.”
If you’re not sure whether you or your kids are up to date, check with your GP or via the Australian Immunisation Register.
Do I still need to go for a cervical screening?
Even if you’re vaccinated, regular cervical screening is still important to keep up with. That’s because the vaccine doesn’t cover every cancer-causing strain of HPV, and it’s possible you were exposed to HPV before being vaccinated.
In 2017, the old two-yearly pap smear was replaced with a five-yearly cervical screening test, which looks for the presence of HPV rather than abnormal cells.
Three years ago, the program was updated again to allow all eligible people aged 25–74 to choose between a clinician-collected sample or a self-collected swab – a change that’s helped boost participation, especially among under-screened groups (not to mention making it much more comfortable and convenient for many women).
