What is human papillomavirus (HPV)?

Human papillomavirus, abbreviated as HPV, is a common virus spread primarily through sexual contact. HPV can cause serious conditions such as cervical cancer and genital warts. Since 2009, teenage girls in the Netherlands have been vaccinated against certain types of HPV to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Still, some adults wonder if an HPV vaccination may still be useful for them.

How do you get infected with HPV?

Most people become infected with HPV through sexual contact with someone carrying the virus. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Some types cause genital warts, while others increase the risk of cancer, such as cervical, anal and penile cancer. The virus is very widespread: as many as 80% to 90% of people contract an HPV infection at some point in their lives.

Many infections go symptomless and clear up on their own by the immune system. During this period, however, you can infect others. In some people, HPV infections cause genital warts, which usually disappear on their own within two years. Dangerous variants of the virus can cause long-term cancer.

HPV and the National Vaccination Program.

Because HPV is common in the Netherlands, the National Vaccination Program has offered both boys and girls aged 10 and older a free vaccination since 2023. Young adults born between 1996 and 2003 can also receive free HPV vaccine thanks to a catch-up campaign. This program aims to limit the spread of HPV and prevent serious diseases.

Vaccinate on your own initiative

In addition to the National Vaccination Program, you can also choose to get yourself vaccinated on your own initiative. This can be done through your family doctor or a private clinic, for example. There are several reasons to consider this. Some people want to be protected not only against cancer, but also against genital warts. For this purpose, vaccines are available that offer protection against HPV types 6 and 11, which cause genital warts.

In addition, some people opt for vaccination because they were not vaccinated as a teenager, for example, because the HPV vaccination was not included in the National Vaccination Program at the time. Adults who previously did not receive a vaccination can also still be vaccinated, although this is at their own expense.

Is an HPV vaccination useful if you are already sexually active?

The ideal time to get vaccinated against HPV is before you become sexually active. This is because the vaccination is preventive and protects against future HPV infections. If you are already sexually active, you may have already contracted an infection with one or more HPV types.

However, a vaccination may still be useful. You may not yet have been exposed to all the HPV types that the vaccination protects against. Moreover, HPV can occur multiple times in your life, even if you have been infected before. Consult with your doctor about whether a vaccination makes sense in your situation.

How does an HPV vaccination work?

Do you want an HPV vaccination outside the National Vaccination Program? Then contact your family doctor, the GGD, a vaccination center or a private clinic. At the family doctor's office, you first pick up a prescription for the vaccine and buy it at the pharmacy. Then the family doctor administers the vaccine. At a GGD or private clinic, they often have vaccines directly in stock.

Have HPV test done

Want to know if you have HPV? Women can have an HPV test at Onedayclinic at several locations in the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, Nijmegen and Eindhoven. Make an appointment here.

Sources

• RIVM - HPV and vaccination.
• State vaccination program - HPV cancer
• LCI guideline HPV