What is HPV and should I tell my partner I have it?
What is HPV and should I tell my partner I have it?
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But in the run-up to Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (January 21-28) – which is during January’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month – it’s important to point out that the vast majority (99.8%) of cervical cancer cases in the UK are caused by HPV.
“There are many different strains of HPV, and they pass easily from person to person through close skin-to-skin contact. This makes it incredibly easy to pick up and as a result nearly everyone who is sexually active will meet the virus.”. But Jenny Halpern Prince, co-founder and chair of the Lady Garden Foundation, which aims to educate women and girls about the symptoms of the five gynaecological cancers, including cervical cancer, says: “Some types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells of the cervix, which can eventually lead to cervical cancer.
“Two strains of the HPV virus are known to be responsible for 70% of all cases of cervical cancer, but these types of HPV infections don’t have any symptoms, so many women won’t realise they have the infection.”. But as the infection can cause cancer, should it be a priority to tell your partner if you’ve got it?.
“Whether you tell your partner is entirely your decision,” says Pisal. “Most men and women with HPV carry the infection without ever being aware of it. Honesty is often the best policy, and sharing this information will raise awareness regarding HPV.”.
