Human Papilloma Virus Screening and Treatment

Warts are a manifestation of infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are >100 of these viruses and of about 40 strains affect the genital tract. About 90% of genital warts are caused by infection with HPV types 6 and 11. These types are not associated with a significant risk of cancer. Types 16 and 18 are associated with a high risk of cancers and are found in about 70% of cervical cancers.

Genital warts are the most common viral STI in the UK.

Up to 20% of people with genital warts will also have another STI.

The Illness

The incubation period can be between three weeks to eight months. After this period, lesions may appear which are usually painless and asymptomatic but which may itch, burn, bleed or discharge. They tend to appear on the skin of the penis, scrotum and groin region in men. In women, they can occur on the vulva, inside the vagina and on the cervix.
Approximately 70% new infections clear in 1 year and 90% in 2 years.

Diagnosis of HPV

Diagnosis is based on clinical appearance. For screening, HPV testing can be performed on swab from the penis or cervix.

Female HPV Testing

Available at all our clinics nationwide as a stand alone test
HPV DNA with individual reporting of all subtypes 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52,56, 58, 59, 66, 68.
Results HPV 3-5 days (London) and 4-6 days (Rest of UK)*.

Male HPV Testing

Available at all our Flagship London Clinics-Moorgate and Oxford Circus and Canary Wharf Only
HPV DNA with individual reporting of all subtypes 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52,56, 58, 59, 66, 68.
Results HPV 3-5 days (London)

GENITAL WARTS AND HPV

Types 6 and 11 of HPV are responsible for over 90 % of genital warts. Genital warts are one of the most common STDs in the UK and highly infectious. Low risk HPV subtypes usually give risk to genital warts, as opposed to high risk subtypes which are a risk factor for cervical cancer.

If a client has no evidence of HPV types 6 or 11 on their smear and no history of genital warts, then consideration can be given to receiving the cervical cancer vaccine. Please see the Cervical Cancer vaccine section of our site for further information.

* If you attend after the courier collection time of your chosen clinic results may take a further 24 hours. See the clinic location map page for further details. For locations with a postal sample collection service may take a further 24 hours to the quoted turnaround times above.

Diagnosis of HPV

Diagnosis is based on clinical appearance. For screening, HPV testing can be performed on swab from the penis or cervix  or directly from a relevant genital skin lesion. This detects 20 strains of HPV including 6 and 11 and 16 and 18.

We carry out visual assessment for HPV and testing where appropriate at our Flagship GP clinics-CityDoc Canary Wharf, Moorgate and Oxford Circus Only. There is a Sexual Health Consultation Fee , when no sexual health test is purchased. 

Treatment

There is no treatment for HPV infection itself. However, the warts can be treated by various methods including applying creams such as Warticon® directly to the warts. Other methods of removal include cryotherapy (zing the warts using liquid nitrogen) and surgery for very large warts.

Ideally, sexual contact with new partners should be avoided until the current warts have cleared.

We provide cryotherapy at our flagship clinics ( Moorgate, Oxford Circus and Canary Wharf-by booked telephone/online GP Consultation category only please)