You may have heard that CIN and cervical cancer is caused by a virus infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). While it is true that virtually all women with CIN and cervical cancer have had HPV infection, so have a huge number of other people without disease.  About 4 out of 5 adult men and women have had HPV infection at some time in their lives but only a minority of women with an HPV infection ultimately have an abnormal smear and a tiny fraction get cervical cancer. It is acquired or caught in almost all cases through close intimate or sexual contact, but the infection is so common and so subtle that referral to a sexually transmitted disease clinic is not appropriate. It should also not be considered  a ‘VD’ or venereal disease . Certainly no antibiotics or other treatment for HPV infection is required.

HPV virus only causes cervical smear abnormalities, if it is not cleared from the body over a period of years.The smear abnormality requires further examination and sampling and sometimes treatment in colposcopy clinic, but the virus itself does not require treatment and there is no effective medical treatment for the virus itself.

A test for HPV infection has been available for research but is not yet part of routine practice. This may be introduced for certain types of smear problems in the next few years. Immunisation against HPV started in September 2008 for girls aged 12 to 13 with a catch up for girls up to 18 in the following 3 years. It is however, unlikely  to alter the rates of smear abnormalities for many years.

You should be aware that smoking can make clearing HPV virus from the body less effective and can make clearance of minor smear abnormalities slower and less efficient and stopping smoking may be advised by your GP, practice nurse or people in the colposcopy clinic.

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