The 'very common' sexually transmitted infection with 'no symptoms' you might never have heard of - things you need to know from a doctor

GP waiting rooms can be filled with information leaflets talking about sexually transmitted infections (STI) that sound familiar. One STI that patients may not be used to hearing of is the human papillomavirus - more commonly known as HPV.

Young people may be aware that the HPV vaccine is given out in schools, now to both girls and boys, as HPV can cause the development of cervical cancer. The vaccine prevents that from happening.

But for those who have not had the vaccine, it is important to recognise the symptoms and treatment options available. Dr Sameer Sanghvi is a practising GP and Clinical Technology Lead at LloydsPharmacy's Online Doctor service. He wants to share seven facts about HPV not many people know.

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“Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses," says the GP. "Some people panic when they hear that it’s a sexually transmitted infection (STI) but it’s very common - in fact, 80% of people will get some form of HPV at some point in their lives.

“There are over 100 strains of HPV and luckily, the majority of them are harmless. However, some strains can lead to cell changes which can cause certain types of cancer. Others can cause things like warts on the hands, feet and genitals.

“Gardasil 9 is the most commonly given HPV vaccine. It protects against nine strains of HPV that are most likely to cause cancers associated with HPV and genital warts. These include cervical, vulval, vaginal, penile and anal cancer, as well as some cancers of the head and neck.”

HPV is often symptomless and if you do get symptoms, sometimes they won’t show up until years after the initial infection. Specifically, HPV can