Close Mobile Navigation

What Irish people understand about HPV

93% of people don’t realise just how common HPV is.
Despite HPV being something most people will encounter in their lifetime, 54% don’t believethey’re at risk of coming into contact with it.
38% of people don’t know that HPV can lead to certain types of cancer.

This research was commissioned by MSD Ireland and carried out by IPSOS B&A on a sample population of 1,000 adults in Ireland.

What is HPV?

HPV, short for Human Papillomavirus, is a very common virus.2 There are many different types of HPV.2 Almost everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives.2 

HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, even if the infected person doesn’t have any signs or symptoms.​2

If you are sexually active, you can get HPV, regardless of the number of sexual partners you’ve had.2 You can also develop symptoms years after having sex with someone who has the infection, which makes it hard to know when you first got it.​2
​​

Some types of HPV may cause infection that increase the risk of certain cancers and pre-cancer cell changes.3 Some types of HPV are called high risk because they increase the risk of certain cancers if an infection lasts a long time, HPV 16 & HPV 18 are examples of high risk viruses and are responsible for most causes of anal and cervical cancer.2,3

HPV vaccination is given free to young people in their first year of secondary school as part of the National HPV Immunisation programme.3 Vaccinating boys and girls against certain types of HPV at the recommended age helps protect them against those types of HPV infection before they are likely to come into contact with human papillomavirus.3

It’s important to note it takes 15 to 20 years for persistent HPV to lead to abnormal cells and develop into certain cancers, getting a HPV infection.3 

Regular screenings and open communication with healthcare professionals can help in monitoring and managing certain HPV-related health concerns.3

HPV infection causes 99% of cases of cervical cancer and almost 5% of all cancers worldwide.

Annual Incidence of HPV related cancers in Ireland in 20206

In Females, cervical cancer 342, vulvar cancer 60, vaginal cancer 13, anal cancer 34. In males, anal cancer 28.
Every year in Ireland approximately 125 people die from HPV related cancers.

Cervical Cancer and HPV

9 in 10 cervical cancers are caused by certain types of HPV. Unlike other types of cancer caused by HPV, signs of an individual being at risk of developing cervical cancer can be detected early through cervical screening. This provides an opportunity for early intervention and treatment.3​