• The human papilloma virus is a common virus. More than 100 different types of HPV have been identified and each is known by a number. HPV affects the skin and the mucosa (the moist membranes that line the body, such as the insides of the mouth, throat, anus and cervix).
• Some types of HPV cause harmless skin warts (papillomas) that can appear on the hands and feet. Types 6 and 11 affect the genital area and can cause genital warts, but they don’t cause cervical cancer. These types are called low-risk HPV.
• Other types of HPV are known to increase the risk of developing particular cancers and are referred to as high-risk HPV. HPV infection of the cervix is mainly diagnosed in women as a result of the cervical screening programme|. A woman may be told she has HPV when she receives her cervical screening result. If HPV infection is present, changes in the appearance of the cells can sometimes be seen when they are looked at under a microscope during the screening process.

Some women who have an abnormal smear test result will attend a colposcopy clinic, where their cervix will be examined using an instrument like a microscope (a colposcope). During the examination, the nurse or doctor can apply a solution to the cervix that makes cells infected with HPV turn white. Most women have HPV at some point in their lives without it causing any harm. There is no treatment for HPV, but our own immune systems can usually get rid of it quickly by themselves. The most important thing women can do is have regular cervical smear tests. These will pick up any abnormal cell changes, which can be easily treated before they develop into cancer.