From HPV infection to cancer
HPV can cause cancer in both men and women.1
- Oropharyngeal cancer in both men and women
- Vulvar, vaginal and cervical cancers in women
- Anal cancer in both men and women
- Penile cancer in men
Someone who develops an HPV infection can go years without having any symptoms.2
Most of the time HPV goes away on its own, other times it can cause genital warts, precancer or cancer.2
Cancer can take years, or even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV.1
Over 90% of HPV infections are cleared by the immune system within 6-18 months, however re-infection with the same or with a different HPV genotype can occur.3
More than 80% of women are affected over their lifetime.5
90% of hr-HPV infections clear within 2 years3
The 10% that persist for more than 2 years are highly linked to precancer.4,6
Persistence of the virus, with one of the high-risk HPV genotypes, is necessary for the development of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also known as precancer, and for the development of cervical cancer.6
The hr-HPV infections that persist are highly linked to precancer6
CIN, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; HPV, human papillomavirus; HSIL, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions; LSIL, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.
1. Cancers Caused by HPV, CDC. 2021. Accessed 3 Nov 2021.
2. Genital HPV Infection - Fact Sheet, CDC. 2021. Accessed 3 Nov 2021.
3. Mitra A et al. Microbiome. 2016;4(1):58.
4. Schiffman M et al. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2003;(31):14–9.
5. Basic Information about HPV and Cancer, CDC. 2020. Accessed 3 Nov 2021.
6. Stoler MH et al. Gynecol Oncol. 2019;153(1):26–33.
7. Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN), Macmillan Center Support. 2021. Accessed 3 Nov 2021.
What are CIN 1, CIN 2 and CIN 3?
CIN is graded by how deep the cell changes go into the surface of the cervix. It is graded into: CIN 1, CIN 2 & CIN 3.1
CIN 1
Surface layer of the cervix cells
CIN 1 means one third of the thickness of the surface layer is affected.
Cells showing CIN 1 will often return to normal without any treatment. Recommendations are to prescribe further cervical screening tests or colposcopies to check whether your patients’ cells have improved. If these tests show the CIN 1 is not improving, you may recommend treatment.
CIN 1 is also called low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL)2
CIN 2
Surface layer of the cervix cells
CIN 2 means two thirds of the thickness of the surface layer is affected.
CIN 2 has a risk of developing into cervical cancer.
CIN 2/3 is also called high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and it is a precancerous condition2
CIN 3
Surface layer of the cervix cells
CIN 3 means the full thickness of the surface layer is affected.
CIN 3 is also known as carcinoma-in-situ.
CIN 3 has a higher risk of developing into cervical cancer.
CIN 2/3 is also called high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and it is a precancerous condition2