What is HPV and how is it transmitted?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a family of 200+ related viruses transmitted by skin-to-skin and mucosal contact — predominantly sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral sex). HPV is the most common STI globally: approximately 80% of sexually active people will acquire at least one HPV type in their lifetime. Most HPV infections (approximately 90%) clear spontaneously within 2 years without treatment. Persistent infection with oncogenic types (HPV 16, 18, and others) can cause cancer. Low-risk types (HPV 6, 11) cause genital warts.

What cancers does HPV cause?

HPV causes 690,000 cancers per year across six sites: Cervical cancer: ~604,000 cases (nearly all caused by HPV); ~342,000 deaths (WHO 2020). Oropharyngeal cancer: rising fast in HICs — base of tongue and tonsil, predominantly HPV 16. Anal cancer: strongly HPV-associated; rising in MSM. Penile cancer: HPV 16/18 in majority. Vulvar and vaginal cancer: HPV 16/18. The most significant recent trend: HPV oropharyngeal cancer has now surpassed cervical cancer as the most common HPV-related cancer in some high-income countries.

When should HPV vaccine be given?

For maximum efficacy, HPV vaccine should be given before sexual debut: Primary target: girls and boys aged 9-14 years (2-dose schedule: 0 and 6-12 months). Catch-up: ages 15-26 years (3-dose schedule: 0, 2, 6 months). Adults 27-45 years: vaccination available but lower benefit (most already exposed). Gardasil-9 (9vHPV) is the recommended vaccine — covering 9 HPV types. Timing: HPV vaccination is most effective before first sexual exposure but still beneficial for unvaccinated older adolescents and adults.

Does the HPV vaccine protect boys?

Yes — gender-neutral HPV vaccination (vaccinating both boys and girls) is now recommended by WHO and implemented in many countries. Benefits for males: prevention of penile cancer (~40-50% HPV-attributable); prevention of anal cancer (especially in MSM — much higher risk); prevention of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer (now predominantly in men); prevention of genital warts (HPV 6 and 11). Herd benefit: vaccinating males also reduces HPV transmission to female partners — amplifying the population-level impact beyond female-only programmes.

What is WHO's cervical cancer elimination strategy?

WHO launched the global strategy to accelerate cervical cancer elimination in 2020, setting three targets by 2030: 90-70-90: (1) 90% of girls fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15; (2) 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35, and again by age 45; (3) 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment. If all countries reach and maintain these targets by 2030, modelling predicts cervical cancer could be eliminated (defined as <4 cases per 100,000 women per year) within decades.

How does GMJ News cover HPV?

GMJ News covers WHO HPV cancer burden, the 9-valent vaccine evidence, Georgia's HPV vaccination programme, oropharyngeal cancer rise, anal cancer in MSM, WHO 90-70-90 elimination strategy, cervical screening, gender-neutral vaccination, and HPV beyond cervical cancer. HPV is directly relevant to PHIG's cancer prevention programme and Georgia's national vaccination schedule.

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Human Papillomavirus

Q: How does GMJ News cover HPV?

GMJ News covers WHO HPV cancer burden, the 9-valent vaccine evidence, Georgia's HPV vaccination programme, oropharyngeal cancer rise, anal cancer in MSM, WHO 90-70-90 elimination strategy, cervical screening, gender-neutral vaccination, and HPV beyond cervical cancer. HPV is directly relevant to PHIG's cancer prevention programme and Georgia's national vaccination schedule.

GMJ News knowledge hub · last reviewed September 2026 · Georgian Medical Journal

Summary Statistics Glossary GMJ news FAQ Documents Organizations Research

Human papillomavirus (HPV) — a family of 200+ DNA viruses transmitted by skin and mucosal contact — causes 690,000 cancers per year globally across six anatomical sites: cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancers, with HPV 16 and 18 responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancers and an even higher proportion of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas — now the fastest-growing cancer in high-income countries, rising 5% annually and predominantly affecting men (WHO). The 9-valent HPV vaccine (Gardasil-9), combined with screening, has the potential to eliminate HPV-attributable cancers within decades — and WHO has set the most ambitious cancer elimination target in history: 90-70-90 (90% vaccination, 70% screened, 90% treated). Gender-neutral vaccination — covering boys as well as girls — is increasingly standard globally.

Key messages

690K HPV-attributable cancers/year — 6 cancer types

HPV causes 690,000 cancers per year across six sites: cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vulvar and vaginal. HPV 16 and 18 cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers and a higher proportion of oropharyngeal and anal cancers (WHO 2023).

Oropharyngeal cancer — fastest-growing HPV cancer in HICs

HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC — tonsil, base of tongue) is now the fastest-growing cancer in high-income countries, rising approximately 5% annually in the US. It predominantly affects men and is linked to HPV 16 acquired through oral sex.

9-valent vaccine covers 90%+ of cancer-causing HPV types

Gardasil-9 (Merck/MSD) covers HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 — protecting against approximately 90% of HPV-related cancers and genital warts. The 2-dose schedule for ages 9-14 is as effective as 3 doses for older adolescents.

Gender-neutral vaccination — boys too

HPV vaccination of boys and men prevents HPV-related cancers in men (oropharyngeal, anal, penile) and provides herd protection for women. Gender-neutral vaccination programmes are now recommended by WHO and implemented in many countries.

WHO 90-70-90 cervical cancer elimination

WHO's cervical cancer elimination strategy requires: 90% of girls vaccinated by age 15; 70% of women screened by age 35 and 45; 90% of those with cervical disease treated. Achieving all three targets could eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem within decades.

HPV can also cause genital warts — not just cancer

HPV 6 and 11 (low-risk, non-oncogenic types) cause approximately 90% of genital warts (condylomata acuminata) — the most common STI-associated benign lesion, affecting approximately 1% of sexually active adults. The 9-valent vaccine protects against these types.

Key statistics

690K

HPV-attributable cancers/year globally (WHO 2023)

WHO 2023

cancer types caused by HPV (cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vulvar, vaginal)

WHO

~90%

of cervical cancers caused by HPV 16 or 18

WHO

+5%/yr

rise in HPV oropharyngeal cancer in HICs

WHO/SEER

90-70-90

WHO cervical cancer elimination strategy targets

WHO 2020

200+

HPV types identified; approximately 12 are oncogenic

WHO

HPV-attributable cancer distribution by anatomical site — global 2023 (WHO)

Source: WHO 2023. Cervical cancer dominates globally; oropharyngeal HPV cancer now exceeds cervical in some HICs.

Glossary of key terms

Oncogenic vs non-oncogenic HPV
WHO/IARCIARC classifies HPV types as high-risk (oncogenic — Group 1 carcinogens: HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 and others) and low-risk (non-oncogenic: HPV 6, 11 — cause genital warts). High-risk HPV integrates into the host genome, disrupting p53 and pRb tumour suppressor pathways — driving malignant transformation. HPV 16 is the dominant oncogenic type globally.

Gardasil-9 (9vHPV)
FDA/EMAA 9-valent recombinant HPV L1 VLP (virus-like particle) vaccine — the only HPV vaccine currently marketed in most countries. Covers HPV 6, 11 (warts) + 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 (cancer). Two-dose schedule (0 and 6-12 months) for ages 9-14; three doses for ages 15-26; off-label for ages 27-45 if not previously vaccinated.

Cervical cancer screening — Pap and HPV
WHOTwo main screening modalities: cytology (Pap smear): detects abnormal cervical cells (ASCUS, LSIL, HSIL, CIN1-3). Primary HPV DNA testing (co-testing or alone): detects high-risk HPV presence — more sensitive (96%) than cytology (55%) for CIN2+; WHO now recommends primary HPV testing as the preferred strategy. Self-sampling HPV tests are expanding access.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)
IARC/WHOHPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (base of tongue, tonsil) — predominantly caused by HPV 16, acquired through oral-genital contact. Epidemiology has shifted dramatically in HICs: HPV-related OSCC has surpassed tobacco-related OSCC. HPV-positive OSCC has better prognosis than HPV-negative (tobacco-related) — higher chemosensitivity and radiotherapy response.

Genital warts (condylomata acuminata)
WHOBenign, cauliflower-like exophytic lesions on genital skin and mucosa — caused by HPV 6 and 11. Most common STI-related benign condition globally (approximately 1% of sexually active adults). Not cancer-causing. Treated with topical imiquimod, podophyllotoxin, trichloroacetic acid or cryotherapy. The 9-valent vaccine provides nearly complete protection against genital warts from HPV 6/11.

LGBTQ+ populations and HPV
WHO/CDCMSM (men who have sex with men) are at high risk of anal HPV infection and anal cancer (approximately 35× higher incidence than heterosexual men). Anal Pap screening and high-resolution anoscopy are increasingly offered to high-risk MSM. Gender-neutral vaccination prevents HPV in all.