What is HPV?

Most cases of genital warts are caused by infection with types HPV 6 and 11, while the majority of the cancer risk comes from types HPV 16 and 18. The types that carry a risk of genital warts do not pose a risk of cervical cancer and vice versa.

The virus has been one of the most widespread sexually transmitted diseases in Denmark until the spread of HPV vaccination. Previously, it was estimated that up to 80% of the population would be infected with HPV during their lifetime.

How is HPV transmitted?

HPV is transmitted by mucous membrane contact, i.e. by intercourse in the vagina and rectum or by close contact between the genitals and by oral sex.

You may well become infected again with the same HPV type that you have already been infected with, because the formation of antibodies against HPV in the body is low and the antibodies do not protect against re-infection as much as was previously thought. You can also be infected with another HPV type.

Condoms and dental dams partially protect against infection, but the HPV virus can sit where these do not cover. You can infect yourself with the virus by touching an infected mucous membrane and, in unfortunate cases, spread it to another mucous membrane. Intimate shaving can also spread the virus around one's genital area.

There are three HPV vaccines that protect against cancer risk by either 70% or 90% - two of the HPV vaccines also protect against infection with genital warts.

What are the symptoms of HPV?

Many infected people do not develop symptoms of infection with the HPV virus and do not suffer from being infected with HPV, but some end up developing genital warts, cell changes in the cervix, precursors to cancer or cancer.

If you get symptoms, the symptoms depend on which type of HPV you are infected with and where you are infected (vagina, penis, rectal opening or throat).

Other symptoms may be persistent bleeding from the abdomen or rectum, pain, swelling, lumps, cough or hoarseness. But these might as well be symptoms of something else instead.

How is HPV tested and treated?

Because so many people can be infected without consequences, testing for HPV is not routinely done. It is not possible to distinguish between the infected person who develops serious consequences of HPV infection and the infected person whose infection disappears again without consequences.

Instead, the Danish Health Authority offers free HPV vaccination for girls and boys between 12-17 years of age – boys must be born on or after 1 July 2007 to be vaccinated for free. The free vaccine is given to prevent cervical cancer in women as well as other cancers in both men and women caused by HPV.

Women between the ages of 23-65 are offered screening for cell changes, where they receive a letter from the doctor every 3-5 years. years depending on their age. Since the HPV vaccine does not protect 100%, it is important to continue to accept offers for screening.

Visible symptoms such as genital warts are treated, but an ongoing HPV infection cannot be removed from the body. Treatment is therefore about removing or reducing the effects of the HPV infection.

What are the consequences of HPV?

There need not be any consequences of infection with HPV.

Many get rid of the virus again without doing anything, perhaps up to around 90%. 

You don't know if you get rid of it completely or if it might lie in the skin's cell layer without being detected. 

Some infected people can develop genital warts, cell changes, precursors to cancer and cancer of the genitals, the rectum or the throat.

Boys and men can also develop cancer due to infection with HPV.

It is very rare to develop genital warts in the mouth after oral sex, but HPV 16 is increasingly found in people with cancer of the throat and that HPV type is considered to be a cause of the cancer.