Although genital warts are a common infection in the UK, testing for HPV has been mainly limited to specialist gynae-oncology practices.
As such, the diagnosis and management of genital warts is often presumptive and can have an extreme psychological impact, causing difficulty in one’s relationships as well as the development of troublesome lesions and possible cancers.
Recent advances in molecular diagnostics allow us to provide greater insight to those faced with problems of HPV and Genital warts. In turn, this has made for a massive difference in the well-being, relationships and sexual health of our patients.
HPV Tests
| HPV Testing in Female Genitalia | HPV Testing in Male Genitalia | HPV Testing in the Throat | HPV Testing in the Rectum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Marker – Low-Risk HPV DNA Types | 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70 | 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70 | 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70 | 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70 |
| Biological Marker – High-Risk HPV DNA Types | 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 69, 73, 82 | 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 69, 73, 82 | 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 69, 73, 82 | 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 69, 73, 82 |
| Window Period | From 21 days | From 21 days | From 21 days | From 21 days |
| Detection Method | PCR-based DNA detection | PCR-based DNA detection | PCR-based DNA detection | PCR-based DNA detection |
| Sample Type | Cervical / Vaginal / Vulval swab | Penile / Urethral swab | Oral swab | Rectal swab |
| Result Time | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Result Output | Genotyping – Detected / Not Detected | Genotyping – Detected / Not Detected | Genotyping – Detected / Not Detected | Genotyping – Detected / Not Detected |
| Price (includes Consultation) | £250 | £350 | £250 | £250 |
FAQs
We usually recommend starting HPV testing from age 25. Younger people often clear the virus naturally, and testing too early can cause unnecessary worry or treatment. If you notice new symptoms or skin/mucosal changes (genital, anal, or throat), speak with a clinician as testing may still be advised.
Yes. We offer HPV testing for men and women across genital, anal and throat sites. Male HPV testing is carried out by specialist clinicians and costs £350 because we use a specialist laboratory for accurate analysis.
We begin with a short consultation and then take a swab from the most appropriate area based on your history and symptoms. This may be a genital swab (vaginal or penile), a throat swab, or an anal swab. Getting a good-quality sample is essential for accurate results.
Consider testing if you’ve had an abnormal smear, you or your partner have genital warts, you’ve been in contact with HPV, you want to know your status, or you’ve noticed new skin or mucosal changes in the genital, anal or throat area.
We recommend waiting about 21 days (3 weeks) after a possible exposure before testing. This allows time for the virus to be detected accurately.
In most cases, your clinician will take the sample during the appointment to ensure enough cellular material. If you have visible warts or other changes, an examination can help with diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Note any symptoms and when they started.
- Avoid applying creams to the area to be swabbed.
- For male patients, we recommend not showering just before the appointment to help collect enough cellular material.
- Relax — everything you share with us is confidential.
We test for both low-risk types (commonly linked to warts) and high-risk types (which can be associated with cancers of the cervix, anus, penis or throat). Your report will show the exact type(s) detected.
Our testing includes both high- and low-risk HPV types and provides type-specific results. NHS screening generally focuses on high-risk types in cervical screening.
You can choose to receive your results by text or email. If your result is positive, don’t worry — HPV is very common and often clears naturally. We’ll explain what it means for you and discuss next steps (such as monitoring, vaccination or treatment if needed).
We recommend telling current partners so they can consider testing and vaccination. We can advise you on how to discuss this and what your partner(s) might need to do.
Yes. Your visit and results are confidential and are not shared with anyone unless you ask us to. If you need it, we can also email a certificate of your results for official purposes.
Next Steps
In Clinic
Same day test results +/- medications available for most infections.
Online
Start, continue or finish your care online.
Not sure what you need? Contact us here.