Media Release
Tuesday 4 March 2025
Today on International HPV Awareness Day, Positive Life NSW along with leading clinicians, highlight the importance for all people living with HIV to be aware of HPV-related cancers caused by the very common HPV (human papillomavirus), including cervical, anal, penile, and head, neck and throat cancers.
Around 80-90% of sexually active adults already have HPV. For most people, the virus is not harmful and naturally cleared by the body within two years. For some people, the virus remains uncleared, and certain HPV types can lead to serious health problems.
All people living with HIV (men, women and people of all sexualities and genders) experience a significantly higher burden of HPV-related cancers. Most HPV-related cancer is preventable through vaccination, screening and timely treatment.
It’s time to see people living with HIV at the forefront of championing screening, prevention, treatment measures for HPV-related cancers. Let’s raise awareness about the HPV, its potential health risks, and prevention strategies to protect people of all ages living with HIV, and increase the likelihood of making HPV-related cancers history.
To support the goal of making HPV-related cancer history, the Australian Anal Cancer Screening Guidelines for all people living with HIV have been released by the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM).
- Australian Anal Cancer Screening Guidelines (ASHM, 2025)
OTHER RESOURCES
- International HPV Awareness Day One Less Worry Campaign: How we can beat HPV: Vaccinate & Screen #onelessworry
- A Community Perspective: On Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer among women and, trans and gender diverse people – Positive Life NSW Community Report, 2019
- PLHIV & Gay Men’s awareness of HPV related anal cancer – Positive Life NSW Community Report, 2018
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jane Costello, CEO – 1800 245 677 or email communications@positivelife.org.au
Positive Life NSW is the largest peer-led and run representative body of all people living with HIV in Australia based in NSW. We make a significant contribution to, and positive impact across the spectrum of health and social issues on behalf of all people living with HIV in collaboration with HIV specialist and mainstream services to improve the health and quality of life of all people living with HIV in NSW. We do this through evidence-based health promotion, research, policy advice and peer support.
