Key facts Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of 200 viruses – while most are harmless some high-risk HPV types are linked to cancer Almost all cervical cancers are linked to HPV HPV is primarily spread through skin-to-skin contact, often during sexual activity. In 2019, HPV caused an estimated 620,000 cancer cases in women and 70 000 cancer cases in men. Vaccination against HPV can prevent these cancers Overview HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Most sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, often without experiencing any symptoms. In most cases, the body’s immune system clears the virus on its own. HPV can affect the skin, genital area, and throat. However, HPV can lead to the development of cancers – according to the World Health Organization 99 per cent of all cervical cancers are linked to the virus.…