Men’s Health / Women’s Health / Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

What is HPV?

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). You can contract HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. HPV can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms.

In majority of cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause genital warts and cancer. Both women & men are susceptible to contracting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer in women, penile cancer in men, and anal cancer for both.

Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. This can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider.

How can i prevent HPV?

Prevention is better than cure in the case of HPV, where there is no treatment for the actual virus. However, health problems like genital warts can be treated by your doctor with prescribed medication.

Although using protection during sexual intercourse can help prevent the spread of HPV, it is not 100% guaranteed.

It is recommended that all sexually active women between 25 and 29 years old undergo Pap smear every three years, and those between 30 and 69 years to undergo the test every five years. This helps to check for cervical cancer, which is best treated as early as possible.

The best preventative measure would be to get vaccinated against HPV. In Singapore, both men & women aged 9 - 45 are eligible for the vaccination (Source: Health Sciences Authority).

Source: CDC

Why take the vaccine?

Individuals can still derive some benefit from the HPV vaccine, even when they are already sexually active. This is because there are over 200 subtypes or strains of the HPV, but only a small handful are regarded as “high risk”. There is a chance you might not have been exposed to these strains.

Source: National University Cancer Institute Singapore

Vaccinations

Currently, the most popular and effective vaccinations for HPV are Gardasil4 and Gardasil9, which cover 4 and 9 strains of the virus respectively.

In Singapore, Gardasil4 is indicated for use for males and females 9 - 26, and Gardasil9 is indicated for males and females 9 - 45.

Medisave options are available. Our prices & payment options can be found on our vaccinations page.

Book an appointment to learn more from our doctors, and get vaccinated against HPV today.