HPV-Related Cancers & Diseases

In women, HPV can lead to:¹

Cervical cancer
Vaginal cancer
Vulvar cancer
Anal cancer
Genital warts

In men, HPV can lead to:¹

Anal cancer
Genital warts

Certain HPV-related cancers could affect you or someone you love.¹

Annual HPV-related cancers reported in Singapore each year:^5,a

Cervical cancer

~309

new cases

Anal cancer

~60

new cases in
women & men

Vaginal cancer

~20

new cases

Vulvar cancer

~39

new cases

^aData as of 2020.

Thankfully, you can take steps today to help prevent
certain HPV-related cancers and diseases.^1,2

Help Protect Yourself Now

Separate fact from myth.

Learn the truth about HPV.

Myth or Fact?

How well do you know HPV?

Myth or Fact?

HPV is a rare virus.

Myth.

HPV is so common that most sexually active people will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime.¹ For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases.^2-4

Myth or Fact?

You would know if you or your partner had HPV.

Myth.

HPV infection usually has no symptoms, so both women and men can get the virus and pass it on unknowingly.¹ For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases.^2-4

Myth or Fact?

Persistent HPV infection can only lead to cervical cancer and doesn’t seriously affect men.

Myth.

Most sexually active people will get HPV at some point in their lives. In women, persistent HPV infection can lead to vaginal, vulvar, anal cancer and genital warts. In men it can result in anal cancer as well as genital warts.⁵ For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases.^2-4

Myth or Fact?

HPV infections can be treated.

Myth.

There is currently no treatment for HPV infection, but certain HPV-related diseases such as genital warts and cervical cancer can be treated.⁶ For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases.^2-4

Myth or Fact?

HPV is an infection that only affects single women.

Myth.

Whether you are a man or woman, sexually active or not, in a monogamous relationship, or think you are being safe, you could be at risk for HPV infection.¹ For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for others,  HPV can cause certain cancers and diseases.^2-4

Myth or Fact?

I can only be infected with HPV once.

Myth.

There are multiple strains of HPV, with several of them associated with certain HPV-related cancers.¹ Most adults may not have been exposed to all the HPV types. You can actually be infected with HPV more than once.^7,8 For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for others, HPV can cause
certain cancers and diseases.^2-4

Myth or Fact?

There are ways to help lower your risk of HPV infection and certain HPV-related diseases.

Fact.¹

Talk to your healthcare provider about: HPV vaccination, regular cervical screening for women, and how you can take of control of lifestyle-related risk factors.
For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases.^2-4

Persons portrayed are not actual patients.
For demonstration purposes only.

World Health Organization (WHO). Human papillomavirus vaccines: WHO position paper (2022 update). Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2022;97(50):645-672
World Health Organization. Questions and answers about human papillomavirus (HPV). https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/376263/WHO-EURO-2024-5631-49185-73415-eng.pdf?sequence=1\. Published 2024. Accessed March 21, 2024.
National Registry of Diseases Office. Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2022. https://www.healthxchange.sg/sites/hexassets/Assets/cancer/scr-ar-2022_web-report.pdf. Published 2024. Accessed November 6, 2024.
Meites E, et al., Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Pink Book). 14th edition. Chapter 11: Human Papillomavirus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-11-human-papillomavirus.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hpv.html Updated August 2021. Accessed June 10, 2024.
Bruni L, Albero G, Serrano B, Mena M, Collado JJ, Gómez D, Muñoz J, Bosch FX, de Sanjosé S. ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (HPV Information Centre). Human Papillomavirus and Related Diseases in Singapore. Summary Report 10 March 2023. https://hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/SGP.pdf Accessed 6 November 2024.

Myth or Fact

World Health Organization. Questions and answers about human papillomavirus (HPV). https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/376263/WHO-EURO-2024-5631-49185-73415-eng.pdf?sequence=1. Published 2024. Accessed March 21, 2024.
Meites E, et al., Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Pink Book). 14th edition. Chapter 11: Human Papillomavirus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-11-human-papillomavirus.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hpv.html Updated August 2021. Accessed June 10, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cancers caused by HPV. https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/about/cancers-caused-by-hpv.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/cancer.html. Updated July 3, 2024. Accessed June 26, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV and oropharyngeal cancer. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/oropharyngeal-cancer.html?CDC_AAref_Val. Last reviewed November 14, 2023. Accessed May 16, 2024.
World Health Organization (WHO). Human papillomavirus vaccines: WHO position paper (2022 update). Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2022;97(50):645-672
World Health Organization: WHO. (2024, March 5). Human papillomavirus and cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papilloma-virus-and-cancer. Accessed 6 November 2024.
Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, et al. Human papillomavirus vaccination for adults: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(32):698-702.
Ferris DG, Brown DR, Giuliano AR, Myers E, Joura EA, Garland SM, Kjaer SK, Perez G, Saah A, Luxembourg A, Velicer C. Prevalence, incidence, and natural history of HPV infection in adult women ages 24 to 45 participating in a vaccine trial. Papillomavirus Res. 2020 Dec;10:100202.