Reference summary — not medical advice or a personal risk estimate.
Human papillomavirus (high-risk types)
Summary
A sexually transmitted virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers and many other genital and throat cancers. Risk is substantially reduced by vaccination.
Detail
High-risk HPV types (notably HPV 16 and 18) are Group 1 with sufficient evidence for cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, penis and oropharynx. WHO recommends HPV vaccination as part of routine immunisation; the recommended age window varies by country but is generally before sexual debut. Catch-up vaccination is offered into early adulthood in many national programmes.
Regional relevance
global
Sources
Primary sources
Supporting sources
- ECDC — ECDC — Communicable diseases and cancer risk (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)
- Canadian Cancer Society — Canadian Cancer Society — Reduce your risk
- ACS — ACS — Known and Probable Human Carcinogens
- Cancer Research UK — Cancer Research UK — Causes of cancer and reducing your risk
- IARC / WHO — European Code Against Cancer — European Code Against Cancer (5th edition) — 14 ways you can help prevent cancer
- NTP — NTP — Report on Carcinogens (US National Toxicology Program)
- Cancer Council Australia — Cancer Council Australia — Causes of cancer
Consumer references
Third-party tools some readers use alongside primary evidence. Meyron doesn't endorse them; we link them because you'll otherwise hit them anyway.
- California Prop 65 list
State of California's list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.