What is the HPV virus and can it affect boys?
HPV can affect about half of sexually active people and lead to cervical cancer.
The sexually transmitted virus is the most widespread worldwide, according to - but what else do we know about it?
What is the HPV virus?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted infection which affects at least half of people who are sexually active.
The STI is the most widespread worldwide and four out of five of the population will contract some form of the virus at least once in their life.
In most cases, the body's immune system will fight off the virus and there won't be any need for extra tests, in fact, some people may not even know they contracted it at all.
The HPV infection affects the skin and mucosa (any moist membrane, such as the lining of the mouth and throat, the cervix and the anus).
And different types impact different parts of the body, causing lesions e.g. HPV types 1 and 2 cause verrucas on the feet.
Out of the 100 identified types of HPV, around 40 of them affect the genital areas of men and women, and of these roughly 20 are associated with the development of cancer.
Dentists have warned that dating apps such as Tinder are putting more people at risk of catching HPV passed on by oral sex.
The British Dental Association said: “Data used to model sexual behaviour are out of date, and factors such as the recent introduction of dating apps may have led to significant changes in behaviour over the last few years, which have not been taken into account.”
Can I get vaccinated against the HPV virus?
The Gardasil vaccine protects against HPV-16 and HPV-18, which combined are responsible for around 70 per cent of cervical cancers.
The vaccine can also protect against HPV-6 and HPV- 11, the two types of strains that cause genital warts.
Up until recently it was only girls aged 12 and 13 who were offered the HPV vaccine as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.
However, it has recently been announced that boys of the same age will routinely be offered the vaccination, starting in the school year 2019-2020.
If you have missed the vaccine at that age and you're under the age of 18, you can have the vaccine free on the NHS, but they will need three doses of the jab as it's not as effective in older girls.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all women ages 26 and younger receive the vaccine and it's not just women - men under 21 should too.
Vaccination against the virus that causes almost all cervical cancer is having a major impact on stopping infections and should significantly reduce cases of the disease within a decade, researchers said on June 26, 2019.
Presenting results of an international analysis covering 60 million people in high-income countries, scientists from Britain and Canada said they found "strong evidence" that vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) works "to prevent cervical cancer in real-world settings".
Should children be vaccinated against the virus?
While children currently get their first dosage of the vaccine in year eight, leading doctors have now argued that primary school children should also be vaccinated.
Doctors have warned that both girls and boys should have the HPV jab aged 11 or younger to prevent oral and cervical cancer.
This is because the HPV vaccination needs to be given to young people before they become sexually active.
However, the vaccine has been subject to controversy since it was first introduced in schools as some critics say that it encourages young people to be sexually promiscuous.
Can it affect boys?
Both men and women can get reinfected several times in their life.
Currently only girls are given the HPV vaccine, however from September the Government will roll out vaccinations for boys in a bid to try and wipe out cervical cancer.
From the 2019-20 school year, 12 to 13-year-old boys and girls will both be eligible for the HPV vaccine.
The decision was taken after advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, an independent body that advises the UK health departments.
Older boys will not be offered the vaccine as, according to the NHS, evidence suggests they're already benefitting greatly from the indirect protection (known as herd protection) that's built up from 10 years of the girls' HPV vaccination programme.
What are the symptoms of the HPV virus?
According to Jo's Trust.org, the majority of infected individuals will have no obvious signs or symptoms, so it is difficult to tell whether someone is infected.
However, as the HPV virus lives in mucous membranes when genital warts show up, that's a good indication of HPV infection.
According to genital warts take on many different appearances, they can be raised, flat, pink, or flesh-coloured and can be a single wart or multiple.
Genital warts can take weeks or even months to show up after sexual contact and partners may not even know they have the HPV infection.
The only way to be sure an individual hasn't been exposed to HPV is through abstinence, which is fairly unlikely for people, however the risks can be reduced if you avoid casual sex with multiple partners.
What celebrities have had HPV?
Jeff Brazier has admitted Jade Goody’s life could have been saved if she had been given the HPV vaccine as a teenager.
The tragic Big Brother star passed away in 2009 from cervical cancer when she was just 27.
During an appearance on Loose Women, Jeff opened up about how Jade’s cancer was linked to HPV (human papillomavirus).
When asked if the vaccine would have saved Jade, Jeff replied: “It would have altered the course, almost definitely.”
Jeff was speaking about the difficult subject as he continues to raise awareness of the links between HPV and male cancers.
The link between male cancers and HPV is not well known and that’s what Jeff is trying to change.
Jeff admitted he’d spoken to his and Jade’s eldest son Bobby about the vaccine.
Previously, Melinda Messenger sparked debate when she revealed she won't be giving her 13-year-old daughter the HPV vaccine.
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The former glamour model caused controversy on This Morning, forcing Holly Willoughby to rush to her defence.
I'm A Celebrity presenter Stacey Solomon has previously admitted that she contracted the HPV virus from an ex-boyfriend, leaving her at risk of cervical cancer.
The singer, presenter and reality TV star spoke out on Loose Women, revealing she has to have smear tests every six months to make sure her cells haven’t mutated.