Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

What you need to know about HPV infection

There are over 150 types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) and about 14 have been found to be related to cervical cancer. Among these 14 subtypes, subtypes 16 and 18 are known to cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers, said Dr Ida Ismail from National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS). Subtypes 6 and 11 cause about 90 per cent of genital warts.

There are over 150 types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) and about 14 have been found to be related to cervical cancer. Among these 14 subtypes, subtypes 16 and 18 are known to cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers, said Dr Ida Ismail from National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS). Subtypes 6 and 11 cause about 90 per cent of genital warts.

A study by Singapore General Hospital on nearly 900 women aged 12 to 82 years found that women between the ages of 20 and 24 years had the highest incidence of HPV infection. This group also had the biggest exposure to high-risk HPV subtypes known to cause cervical cancer. The study was published in the International Journal of STD & AIDS last March.

About 90 per cent of HPV infections go away without treatment. In some cases, the infection persists and can develop into cancer.

Using condoms does not eliminate the risk of HPV infection as the virus is spread via skin-to-skin contact.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.