HPV. Is it an STD? It is cancer? Is it a common problem? There are so many questions surrounding HPV, I thought I’d help to clear a few things up in this blog post that addresses HPV and getting vaccinated.
I will be taking information directly from the NHS website to help you understand Cervical Cancer and HPV in this blog post.
What is HPV?
HPV is the name given to a very common group of viruses. There are many types of HPV, some of which are called “high risk” because they’re linked to the development of cancers, such as cervical cancer, anal cancer, genital cancers, and cancers of the head and neck.
HPV is what you are screened for at your cervical screening/smear test. These are the cells that can become cancerous if left untreated. You can read about my experience having my first smear test here.
There are more than 100 different types of HPV, and around 40 that affect the genital area. HPV is very common and can be caught through any kind of sexual contact with another person who already has it. Most people will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives and their bodies will get rid of it naturally without treatment. But some people infected with a high-risk type of HPV will not be able to clear it. Over time, this can cause abnormal tissue growth as well as other changes, which can lead to cancer if not treated.
How is HPV related to Cervical Cancer?
Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV. HPV is a very common virus that can be passed on through any type of sexual contact with a man or a woman. There are more than 100 types of HPV, many of which are harmless. But some types can cause abnormal changes to the cells of the cervix, which can eventually lead to cervical cancer.
How does the HPV vaccine work?
Currently, the national NHS HPV vaccination programme uses a vaccine called Gardasil. Gardasil protects against 4 types of HPV: 6, 11, 16 and 18. Between them, types 16 and 18 are the cause of most cervical cancers in the UK (more than 70%). These types of HPV also cause some anal and genital cancers and some cancers of the head and neck. HPV types 6 and 11 cause around 90% of genital warts, so using Gardasil helps protect girls against both cervical cancer and genital warts.
Who can get the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is routinely offered to girls and boys aged 12 and 13 in school Year 8. The second dose is normally offered 6 to 12 months after the first (in school Year 8 or Year 9). It’s important to have both doses of the vaccine to be fully protected. People who were eligible for HPV vaccination in school Year 8 but who missed it can still be vaccinated on the NHS up to their 25th birthday. If you are older than 25, you can still get vaccinated but will have to go private to do this.
What is my experience?
When I was 21 I went to the Doctors because I noticed an abnormality about my body. From the Doctors, I was sent to the hospital, where I had two cervical biopsies. I’m not going to sugarcoat this experience, it was scary and it hurt. The word cancer was mentioned a few times and I was told I had signs of HPV1 and would have to come back in a year.
I was told HPV1 can be one of two things; either the start of HPV, which would need to be treated or an imbalance caused by hormones. So I went back in a year to see if I still had the signs of HPV or if it was hormonal. Fun fact, this is why the smear test age is 25+, hormones play a big part in your results and trust me, this isn’t something you want to go through if you don’t need to.
On my second testing, results came back clear and I had to go back to my Doctors the following year for a smear test. I did so and again, all clear. A massive sigh of relief from me and the following year the abnormalities I was noticing were identified as signs of ectropion (when some of the cells on the inside of your cervix, grow on your outside of it, nothing to worry about and very common). I was very glad to have answers, but also this whole experience gave me a perspective on how important this whole process is. I will not use my platforms to speak about it whenever I can, in the hope of raising awareness with as many people as possible.
Getting the HPV vaccine in my 20’s
I didn’t get the HPV vaccine at school because it was new and scary and I choose not to. But at 24 I have now received all three stages of the vaccine, courtesy of the NHS. It was scary to do voluntarily, needles are never going to be nice. But I’m really glad I did this and I would encourage you to as well if you have the option.
I rang up my Doctors and asked them if it was possible to get the vaccination. Initially, they were hesitant, but after speaking to their Nurse they were happy to book me in. From what I’ve heard, some people do struggle to get their GP surgery to book them an appointment, but the NHS website states it is possible, so if you want to book in, do!
The injection is split into three stages over the course of around 8 months. I personally found the second injection to be the most painful, but generally, the worst part was just the sharp pain and then an achy arm for the rest of the day. A small price to pay to be vaccinated against HPV.
I hope from reading this you have learnt something about HPV and Cervical Cancer. I feel like a lot of people hear the term HPV and think it’s some sort of STD. But actually, it’s incredibly common and easily treatable if your body doesn’t naturally get rid of it for you. At the end of the day, you know your own body and if you start to notice anything unusual about it, go to the Doctors.
I hope this blog post has helped shed some light on HPV and the vaccine in some small way!
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