HOW TO HANDLE HPV

The STI is incredibly common, so why does a diagnosis trigger an immediate spiral of shame and panic?

- By Marni Dixit

While nearly every sexually active person will contract human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lives, receiving a diagnosis still tends to spark a wave of fear and embarrassment.

The virus remains deeply stigmatised, despite being one of the world’s most common STIs, often causing women to instantly worry about cancer or feel a sense of shame. Yet, health experts want to change the narrative, reassuring us that in the vast majority of cases, HPV is entirely harmless, symptomless and cleared naturally by our immune systems.

WHAT IS IT?

HPV is a common virus, and there are many different forms of it. While an infection often has zero symptoms, it can sometimes cause genital warts or cell changes that, if left untreated, could lead to cervical, vaginal, vulvar or anal cancers.

It’s important to note that it would take 15-20 years for an HPV infection to lead to cancer.

“I usually tell patients that HPV is not a rare STI, it’s almost a normal part of being sexually active,” women’s health expert Dr Ginni Mansberg stresses.

“Up to 90 per cent of the population will be infected with at least one genital HPV type at some stage. So this is not a ‘you did something wrong’ diagnosis.”