HPV is a tricky little thing. There are many different strains, all of which do different things. Some of the strains cause cancer, but others cause genital warts. Most go away in a couple of years, but some folks have persistent HPV infections that refuse to go away. It’s a minefield out there; no one would deny that. I’m on a mission, though. It’s my aim to make HPV simple for everyone to understand… and get tested for. (But that’s definitely a mission for another blog post, and another day!)
Here, you will find an ever-growing HPV strains list, featuring each strain (regardless of how common) and exactly what they do to the human body, with a few statistics along the way… mostly because I couldn’t find a list myself when I wanted one.
So, shall we crack on?
STI HPV Strains List (And What They Do)
There are more than 200 reported strains of HPV, also known as Human Papillomavirus. Out of those two hundred strains, approximately 40 to 50 of them specifically infect both male and female genitalia and anus (sexually transmitted infections.)
- STI HPV Strains List (And What They Do)
- HPV Type 6
- HPV Type 11
- HPV Type 16
- HPV Type 18
- HPV Type 26
- HPV Type 30
- HPV Type 31
- HPV Type 33
- HPV Type 34
- HPV Type 35
- HPV Type 39
- HPV Type 40
- HPV Type 42
- HPV Types 43/44
- HPV Type 45
- HPV Type 51
- HPV Type 52
- HPV Type 53
- HPV Type 54
- HPV Type 56
- HPV Type 58
- HPV Type 59
- HPV Type 61
- HPV Type 62
- HPV Type 64
- HPV Type 66
- HPV Type 67
- HPV Type 68
- HPV Type 69
- HPV Type 70
- HPV Type 72
- HPV Type 73
- HPV Type 81
- HPV Type 82
- HPV Type 83
- HPV Type 84
- HPV Type 85
- HPV Type 89
- HPV Type 91
- HPV Type 97
- HPV Type 102
- HPV Type 106
- HPV Type 114
- HPV Strains List: Summary
Around 15 HPV types are classed as “high risk,” which essentially means they have the ability to cause cancer. This number is hotly debated, but sits somewhere between 13 and 16 high-risk strains. We know that 9 strains definitely can cause cancer, but there are another 6 that *might* cause cancer. Investigations are ongoing.
This HPV strains list contains all of those high-risk strains, and all 40/50-ish sexually transmitted infections alongside how to prevent them, details on which ones are tested for in NHS smear tests, and also details on how to get tested for some others privately.
HPV Type 6
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
HPV type 6, also known as HPV-6, causes genital warts. It’s one of the most common strains of HPV in the UK, and one of the most popular sexually transmitted infections, too.
It is not included in NHS smear testing because it doesn’t cause cancer.
Both HPV-6 and HPV-11 can cause a condition known as RRP in rare cases, however, medically known as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. With this, wart-like growths develop in the respiratory system, including:
- Lungs
- Bronchi
- Mouth
- Nose
- Throat
- Larynx
- Trachea
The most commonly affected are vocal cords and larynx, according to the National Organization of Rare Disease.
HPV-6 is covered by the Gardasil 9 HPV preventative vaccination. Getting vaccinated will dramatically your reduce of getting genital warts and cervical cancer.
Better2Know offers an at-home swab (vagina) test specifically for low-risk HPV, which checks for both HPV-6 and HPV-11, and I also believe it includes types 40, 42, 43, and 44, too.
I’ve compared (and reviewed) Britain’s biggest and best private HPV tests, and you can read all about that (and find more information on the Better2Know tests) right here: A Guide to Private HPV Tests UK.
HPV Type 11
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
Just like HPV type 6 on this HPV strains list, HPV-11 causes benign genital warts (and potentially recurrent respiratory papillomatosis) and isn’t believed to cause cancer. Again, it is a very common strain of HPV (and STI) in the UK, but it doesn’t cause cancer, so isn’t tested via cervical smears.
Gardasil 9 (HPV vaccination) prevents HPV type 11.
Alongside Better2Know (above,) The STI Clinic also offers private, at-home swab (vagina) testing for:
- High Risk General, £89.95
- High Risk Specific, £129.95
- High/Low Risk, £139.95
HPV Type 16
Risk: High (most aggressive.)
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
HPV 16 is a high-risk strain that has the ability to hide or avoid the body’s natural defence system (immune system,) and has the potential to become a long-term, persistent high-risk HPV infection. In turn, this type has the potential to turn into cancer.
HPV type 16 has been linked to the following types of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society:
- Cervical
- Vulva
- Vaginal
- Penile
- Anal
- Mouth
- Throat
Most throat, tongue, and tonsil cancers that are caused by HPV, are caused specifically by HPV type 16. These are known as HPV-positive cancers. The Oral Cancer Foundation (US) states:
“HPV is the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers; primarily the tonsils, tonsillar crypt, the base of the tongue, and a very small number of front of the mouth, oral cavity cancers. HPV16 is the version most responsible, and affects both males and females.”
High-risk HPV 16 and HPV 18 are also responsible for up to eighty percent of all cervical cancers, according to some experts. Both are covered – and prevented – by the Gardasil 9 vaccination.
Side note: men are up to five times more likely to get HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers, of which HPV-16 is a main culprit for… which is mad, as they aren’t routinely (or easily) tested for the virus at all.
Get the damn HPV vaccination, penis people and vagina people.
Find more information on the HPV vaccination (Gardasil 9) right here.
HPV Type 18
Risk: High (most aggressive.)
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
HPV 18 is the second high-risk type that causes most cancers in the UK.
HPV types 16 and 18 together cause approximately 7 out of 10 cases of cervical cancer, according to NHS Gloucestershire Hospitals, which is slightly lower than that 80% estimate above, but is still scarily high, nevertheless.
Gardasil 9 (HPV vaccination) protects against type 18.
The NHS does not routinely tell patients which strains or types of HPV they have tested positive for, which is a bit of a joke, in my opinion. You will be told if you have a high-risk strain of the virus, but again, you won’t be told which specific strain you have – or if you even have more than one strain. You could have multiple strains, over a long period of time (which could indicate an issue with your immune system) and not know about it.
I didn’t find out about my HPV strains until I did a private test. After some research (and a few word-of-mouth suggestions) I decided to go with All Checked Up. The HPV-specific (swab/vagina) test was £85 (you can pay in instalments) and tested for 19 high-risk and low-risk HPV types.
It took a couple of days to get my results from the time All Checked Up received the at-home swab test in the mail, and the whole thing was a lot simpler than I thought it was going to be. They even emailed my doctor with the results. I couldn’t recommend them more, to be honest.
HPV Type 26
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
HPV-26 might cause cancer, which means that it has been put in the high-risk bracket; however, experts aren’t quite sure yet. They describe it as “probably carcinogenic” or cancer-causing, but it doesn’t do things in quite the same way that other high-risk HPV types do, such as HPV-16 or 18.
This HPV strain is pretty rare, but a high viral load (aka lots of the virus in your body) can cause precancerous cell changes, especially with a long-term, persistent infection. There are approximately eight HPV types that, when clubbed together, count for around three percent of all cervical cancer cases. HPV-26 is one of these eight, alongside types 53, 66, 67, 68, 70, 73 and 82.
Superdrug offers an at-home swab test for HPV, including HPV-26 and 19 high-risk others, for just £55, with results back in 7 days or less. It’s £30 cheaper than the All Checked Up test for pretty much the same thing, with the same HPV types tested for, but does take a little longer for results. Get the Superdrug one if you can wait a little longer and want to spend a little less!
Gardasil 9 offers no protection against HPV-26 (but you should still get the vaccine anyway.)
HPV Type 30
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
Experts once thought that HPV-30 was a cancer-causing strain of the virus, giving it a predictive classification of high risk. It’s quite rare, in all fairness, accounting for only 0.3% of all HPV cases globally. Experts have mostly agreed, however, that it fits more closely to the 2B or possibly cancer causing bracket.
One study states:
“HPV-30, -55, -68, -70, and -72 were undetermined for the risk of any cervical lesions.”
However, other studies prefer to err on the side of caution, stating “undetermined oncogenic risk” when talking about HPV-30, which basically means, “We don’t know one way or the other yet,”
This HPV strain is “extremely rare” compared to the other genital and anal wart-causing ones on this HPV strains list, but it still can cause the same warts via skin-to-skin sexual contact, nevertheless.
HPV Type 31
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
Type 31 is a another on this HPV strains list that’s classed as a high-risk strain of HPV that can cause cancer, and experts say that it’s a close relative of the most cancer-causing HPV type: HPV-16. Out of the four most cancer-causing types of HPV in the USA, HPV-31 comes second in terms of actual cancer cases. The first, of course, is HPV-16.
Despite being a high-risk and aggressive strain, and closely linked to HPV-16, very few people with HPV-31 will go on to develop cancer – and those cell changes are almost always picked up during routine smear testing. NHS smear tests specifically look for this strain (HPV-31.)
Most HPV-positive cancers are very slow to grow, taking around 15 to 20 years to develop into full-blown cancer, according to the World Health Organization, and that’s without routine screening. Fewer than ten percent of all high-risk HPV positive people develop cancer at all.
Contemporary OB/GYN states:
“The most common high-risk types linked to CIN3+ in the United States, from more to less prevalent [are] HPV-16, 31, 52, and 18.”
NIH studies suggest that HPV-31 is responsible for up to 4% of all global cervical cancer cases. For some comparison, HPV-16 and HPV-18 together cause 70% of them.
HPV-31 is one of the nine types included in the Gardasil 9 vaccination. Getting the vaccination will dramatically reduce your chances of getting this cancer (and those associated with nine other strains.)
HPV Type 33
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
Just like HPV-31, type 33 is closely related to HPV-16 – the big, bad baddie of the HPV world. One NIH study shows that around 5% of all cervical cancer cases are caused by the HPV-33 strain. The studies did show that location was important, though; this strain is more prominent (both in people and cancer) in Asia and Oceana than in Africa.
Gardasil 9 (the vaccination) protects you against HPV-33, and it is included in both NHS smears and most private tests.
HPV Type 34
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
Just like HPV-30, type 34 is “exceptionally rare,” and it is not included in private tests, NHS smear tests, or the Gardasil 9 HPV vaccination. It counts for less than 0.1% of all HPV-positive results.
North America is home to most HPV-34 cases, and even there, when it is found in higher numbers, it still only accounts for 0.6% of all HPV-positive test results globally.
Just like all the others on this HPV strains list, HPV-34 is a sexually transmitted infection. It is passed from one person to another by way of sexual contact – fluids and skin around the genitals and anus.
HPV Type 35
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
Africa might have fewer cases of HPV-33, but it is, unfortunately, the most common place in the world for HPV-35, which is high-risk, can cause cancer, and causes up to 27% of all Sub-Saharan African cervical cancer cases.
For the rest of the world, HPV-35 only makes up 2% of all cervical cancers. Because of this, Gardasil 9 does not include protection for HPV-35. You will still be tested for it in NHS smears and private tests, though.
HPV Type 39
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
This strain of HPV is related to HPV-18 rather than HPV-16, making it high-risk, but slightly less risky. Some experts put it in a “lower-end high risk” bracket, along with HPV-51, 56, 59, and 68; causing approximately 1% to 2% of all cervical cancer cases globally.
HPV-39 is slow to move and develop into cancer, and is also much less aggressive than HPV-16 and 18 types. Precancerous cell changes can ‘heal’ themselves, and this happens more with HPV-39. Medical professionals will often take a wait-and-see approach to treating these cells, letting the body’s immune system do the hard work rather than taking a more drastic and invasive form of treatment (like LLETZ.)
NHS smear tests look for this type of HPV, as do private tests.
Gardasil 9 does not offer protection against the HPV-39 strain (but get it anyway.)
I think it’s important to state that most strains of HPV are cleared by your body’s immune system within two years of first contracting the virus. Most people aren’t ever aware that they have the virus in the first place, let alone that their body has cleared it – which is also why judgment of this so called “STI” is just silly.
It’s the persistent types that typically cause cancer – the ones that the body’s immune system can’t tackle. Persistent HPV infections can last for literal years. They can go away, giving you a negative smear test, before coming back again. That post-dormant positive test is a shock and a half, especially when you’ve not had any sexual contact in that time!
HPV Type 40
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
HPV-40 and HPV-57 were discovered at the same time, in 1989, present in the fluids (mucus) of genital warts – or as they were known back then (and still medically now) genital condylomata acuminata.
These warts pop up around the anus, vagina, vulva, cervix, scrotum, and penis; and they get passed from one person to another via skin-to-skin contact during oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Some people get one at a time; others get lots together, in clusters. As with most types of HPV, the immune system normally clears HPV-40 on its own – with or without symptoms.
I was unable to find a test that specifically pinpoints the HPV-40 strain of the virus, and medical professionals usually diagnose genital warts by sight, rarely strain-testing them. The HPV-40 strain is simply not common enough to warrant testing like types 6 and 11, appearing in fewer than 1.5% of all HPV cases. It almost always appears with at least one other strain of HPV at the same time.
HPV Type 42
Risk: It’s complicated.
Smear: No.
Private testing: Rarely, special request.
Vaccine: No.
For quite a while, everyone believed that HPV-42 was a low-risk, benign kind of HPV that only causes genital/anal warts… but experts are starting to notice something: it can cause cancer. Just not the kind of cancer normally associated with this virus.
In 2025, research papers were published on PubMed that showed a growing link between HPV-42 and cervical carcinomas plus other invasive types of genital cancers. This specific, supposedly low-risk strain was also found to be the “potential causative agent” behind some cases of DPA (digital papillary adenocarcinoma.)
I’ve said it before and I don’t doubt that I’ll say it again: HPV is a funny lil virus, and it performs magic tricks that absolutely nobody expects… in mostly bad ways, of course.
On the plus side, only around a little over 1% of the population ever tests positive for HPV-42; however, people that don’t test positive for high-risk strains, have this specific low-risk strain instead, in almost 16.5% of cases.
HPV Types 43/44
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
I’m clubbing these two types together on my HPV strains list, mostly because scientists and medical experts do it, too. They’re both low-risk, non-oncogenic (non-cancer-causing) types and often lead to genital warts instead.
In one Korean study, men with genital warts were three times more likely to test positive for HPV-43 or 44 despite less than 2.8% of the population contracting it.
A 2025 study showed that HPV-43 was the least common strain, out of 447 men and women, appearing in 2.6% of positive HPV cases.
HPV Type 45
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
Research from Science Direct shows that HPV-31 and HPV-45 combined, are responsible for up to 10% of all cervical cancers. That same research shows that this strain (HPV-45) associates closely with all levels of dysplasia (CIN1, 2, 3) and invasive carcinoma, and is one of the top three types found in cervical adenocarcinomas in Europe (along with HPV-16 and 18.)
Creative Diagnostics, on the other hand, says:
“Epidemiological studies indicate that HPV-45 accounts for approximately 4%-8% of cervical cancers.”
Thankfully, both smears and private tests check for HPV-45 (and several other high-risk types from this HPV strains list,) and it’s also included in the Gardasil HPV vaccination.
HPV Type 51
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
One 2022 paper on HPV-51 specifically showed that women in Wales were more likely to be infected with HPV-16 and HPV-18 first and foremost, but HPV-51 was the next most common variant after that. In fact, the number of positive tests found was so surprising that researchers said this:
“The high prevalence of HPV 51 observed in a prospective cohort of unvaccinated women entering the cervical screening programme in Wales was unexpected and warranted further investigation.”
Out of 14,128 samples, 65 of just the twenty-year-olds were found to have HPV-51 plus at least one other strain of the virus at the same time. 62 twenty-year-olds had just the one strain.
Gardasil 9 does not protect against HPV-51, but NHS smear tests and private HPV tests do check for it.
HPV Type 52
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
Phuket Medical Clinic says this about HPV-52:
“HPV 52 is classified as a carcinogenic high-risk HPV type and causes cervical cancer through specific molecular mechanisms.”
Mentioning Phuket (even though I’m writing this from the UK) is important because HPV-52 is one of the most common HPV strands in Asia. It is the second most common type, with HPV-16 holding the top spot. Some regions even report higher positive results for HPV-52 than the others, including HPV-16, particularly in China.
HPV-52 is also more common in sub-Saharan African regions, has “moderate distribution” in both North and South America, and is estimated to account for around 8% to 9% of all HPV cases globally. Because of this, NHS smears and private HPV tests check for the presence of this stain specifically and the Gardasil 9 HPV vaccination also offers protection against it.
HPV Type 53
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: No.
Private Testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
Can HPV-53 cause cancer? Yes. Does it cause cancer? Yes, but nowhere near as much as HPV-16 and 18. You are even less likely to develop cancer from a positive HPV-53 result if it is the only strain found, plus it grows super slowly.
One study puts things quite simply:
“The lesion caused by HPV53 infection progressed slowly. The pathogenicity of a single HPV53 infection was low.”
In essence, HPV-53 is pretty low on the cancer-causing HPV strains list to worry about.
Estimates for how common this particular strain of HPV is, are pretty varied and location-dependant. Some believe it accounts for somewhere between 1.5% and 10%, and it appears in fewer than 0.5% of all cervical cancer cases.
HPV Type 54
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
Discovered in 1990 (along with HPV-55,) HPV-54 is not known to cause cancer, but is known to cause both genital warts and was initially found in verrucous carcinoma (flat, slow-growing, and quite rare form of skin cancer) from lesions on a penis. (I keep telling you: it’s not a vagina-only issue!)
One study that monitored women in Chengdu, China from 2019 to 2024 proved that HPV-54 was one of the most common low-risk types of HPV found in positive results, along with HPV-42 and 40.
It’s hard to know how many cases of HPV-54 there is in the UK. As with many other types of HPV, and particularly the low-risk ones, the viral infection often causes absolutely no symptoms whatsoever. This type isn’t tested in NHS smear tests, and not every private testing company offers testing for it.
Some surveys have prevalence of HPV-54 sitting at around 10% of all HPV-positive cases, and others have estimated around 5%-6% of women in the UK have HPV-54 at any one time.
You could have it right now without even knowing about it. (Sorry.)
HPV Type 56
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
The first thing you should know about HPV-56 is that it often turns up with a friend, and most commonly HPV types 16, 52, and 66. Evidence shows that 68% of all HPV-56-positive tests also showed the presence of at least one other strain at the same time.
The second thing you should know is that it causes low-grade cancerous changes more frequently than high-risk changes. The former rarely causes cancer, whereas the latter can and sometimes does.
Up to 7% of all CIN1 or low-grade lesions/cell changes test positive for HPV-56.
2% to 3% of all CIN2/3 or medium/high-grade cell changes and lesions test positive for HPV-56.
NHS smear tests check for the presence of this HPV type, but it isn’t included in the HPV vaccination.
HPV Type 58
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: Yes.
HPV-58 is clubbed together with types 31, 33, 45, and 52 to make up the majority of cervical cancer cases that aren’t caused by the two usual culprits: HPV-16 and HPV-18. Together, these five types are said to amount for a little over 16% of all cervical cancer cases in the UK. Figures are not regularly published for the each of the types specifically, but HPV-58 is estimated to cause approx. 3% to 4% of all UK cervical cancer cases. In ‘real’ figures, this is around 100 to 150 cases annually.
According to NHS estimates, this specific strain of HPV can be found in up to 8% of all high grade dysplasia cases, also known as CIN3 (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia grade 3.) This is not cancer, but they are known as precancerous cells. In some places, CIN3 is referred to as “stage 0 cervical cancer.”
Gardasil 9 protects you from HPV type 58, and it’s one of the strains specifically looked for in UK NHS smear tests.
HPV Type 59
Risk: High.
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
NHS smear tests check for the presence of HPV type 59, but the Gardasil 9 HPV vaccination does not offer protection for it. Some might argue that this is a strange move, especially when HPV-59 is said to amount for around 8.5% of all HPV-positive results and sits in the “top 5 most frequent high-risk strains.”
One study on Italian cervical cancer screening showed that 260 positive results were HPV-59 positive, out of a total of 4,244 positive tests. That amounts to 4.8% of all positive tests.
Twenty-eight studies covering 27,335 participants, compared worldwide data for HPV infections, showing that HPV-59 specifically was the seventh highest for its potential to cause a persistent HPV infection – the likes of which can and sometimes do go on to cause cervical cancer.
HPV Type 61
Risk: Low
Smear: No
Private testing: Yes
Vaccine: No
HPV-61 is a low-risk strain of the virus, that can cause genital warts, but rarely does. It can also cause cell changes, such as CIN1, that very, very rarely develop into cancer. CIN1 cells are usually left alone when found on a routine smear test because they frequently resolve on their own, without medical intervention. Chances are, you’ll have CIN1 on one smear test, then all clear/negative on the next, just twelve months later.
This strain is fairly rare, accounting for around 1.5% of all genital-specific HPV cases, but is still a somewhat common occurrence, alongside strain such as HPV-54 and HPV-81.
There are a few at-home testing options for this specific strain of HPV, plus in-clinic appointment options, but it’s not as common on tests as some of the other HPV strains.
HPV Type 62
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private Testing:
Vaccine: No.
As has been the case with a few types featured on this HPV strains list, HPV-62 is often found alongside other strains at the same time – both high and low-risk. This particular strain is low-risk (doesn’t cause cancer,) but it also doesn’t cause genital warts, either.
Pointless strain, am I right?
Research published in 2025 showed that HPV-62 was a fairly uncommon low-risk strain of the virus, accounting for 4.6% of positive results. HPV-6 was the most common low-risk strain, with 41% of cases.
HPV Type 64
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
HPV type 64 is super rare. In some studies, it actually comes up zero times; that’s how rare. It doesn’t cause cancer, but it can very rarely cause low grade cell changes, such as CIN1. It often comes with other types from this HPV strains list, though. This includes both high-risk, such as HPV-16 or 18; and low-risk, such as HPV-6 or 11.
This strain is so rare that the only test I could find for it was via clinical studies and can’t be/isn’t sold to the general public.
HPV Type 66
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: Sometimes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
There are real debates about whether or not HPV-66 is a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) strain. Some experts argue that it is, but on a borderline level; others say that it should be in the low-risk box. The truth is this: sometimes, HPV-66 can cause cancer, but it isn’t common enough for there to be a definitive link made. Does that make sense? This specific strain is found in fewer than 0.5% of all anal or genital cancers.
One Brazilian-based study showed that HPV-66 actually turns up pretty frequently when it is looked for. It came in at second place, appearing in 4.6% of all HPV-positive rests. First place (following a big trend on this HPV strains list) was HPV-16, appearing in 63.4%.
Research on Mexican cases of HPV positive tests states this:
“HPV-66 either in single or co-infection with other HR-HPV types (excluding 16 and 18) might be indicative of non-progressive cancer lesions.”
The same study also says this:
“HPV-66 prevalence was unusually high in low-grade cervical lesions, predominantly in co-infection with HPV-51, and very low among cervical cancer.”
Some NHS smear tests will check for HPV type 66, as “a 14th high-risk strain,” but this is not guaranteed. It is very uncommon to even find out which strains you tested positive for from NHS smear tests.
HPV Type 67
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
We think that this particular HPV strain causes cancer, but it’s one of those types that sits in the ‘maybe’ box. HPV-67 is said to be present in fewer than 1% of cervical cancer tissues, but it often comes with other strains at the same time. We can’t tell which specific strain is causing cell changes when there’s more than one present.
Research into Japanese women says that HPV-67 is closely related to HPV16, 31, 33, 35, 52 and 58; but experts are still looking into the specifics. It’s such a rare strain that they just haven’t had lots of opportunities (or need?) to study it.
HPV Type 68
Risk: High (2A: probably carcinogenic.)
Smear: Yes.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
Research published in 2026 showed a definite need for scientists and experts to take a closer look at HPV-68, stating this:
“We found that HPV68, particularly a form known as HPV68a, was common and associated with early tissue changes linked to anal cancer.”
Out of more than 27,300 people, 16.61% of them tested positive for HPV-68, one research paper shows. 0.4% of all cervical cancer cases globally are positive for this strain. Thankfully, NHS smear tests check for the presence of HPV type 68, giving you (and medical professionals) ample time to catch and treat it before the cell changes get to that stage.
HPV Type 69
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
HPV-69 reportedly accounts for approximately 0.2% of all cases of invasive cervical cancer, and this specific strain is also linked to anal squamous cell carcinoma, particularly in people who are HIV-positive. Thankfully, HPV-69 is a pretty rare strain, with some studies finding zero positive results for it. It’s estimated that around 0.1% to 0.2% of all HPV-positive results will be this type.
It sits in a group of “intermediate to high-risk” strains, that are less cancer-causing than their aggressive cousins (HPV-16, 18, etc.,) but still potentially carcinogenic, nevertheless. Although it isn’t included in NHS smear tests, you can get private tests for it, both at-home and in clinics.
HPV Type 70
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
I struggled to find many statistics (or information) for HPV type 70, which is a good indication for rarity. How common it is, is very location dependent, too. Some studies show that it is one of the top five most prevalent types in places like China and South Korea, and localised research often shows small spikes in somewhat contained areas.
Private testing for HPV-70 is a little more difficult to find (and expensive) than testing for other strains because of its rarity, but here are some of the places that do/can test for it:
- Clarewell Clinics (£250-£350)
- The STI Clinic (£139.95)
HPV Type 72
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
HPV-72 doesn’t cause cancer, nor does it cause genital warts. It can cause some benign (not cancerous) changes in some people with weakened immune systems, but that’s pretty much the only scary thing about this entry on my HPV strains list.
There is a bad side to it, of course; type 72 regularly comes with a friend. More often than not, HPV-72’s friend is HPV-81 or 82, but it has been known to hang around with a few other types, too. HPV-82 is a potentially high-risk strain, and although somewhat rare, can cause precancerous, then cancerous changes with persistent and long-term infections. HPV-81 is more of a probably low-risk strain.
HPV Type 73
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: No.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
HPV type 73 is found in approximately 0.3% to 3% of cervical cancer cases around the world, with most expert suggesting closer to 0.5%, and it falls into the probably/potentially high-risk bracket.
Just as with most entries on this HPV strains list, persistent infections of type 73 are more likely to develop into precancerous or cancerous cell changes, and for most people, the immune system does its job and fights the virus long before that has a chance to happen.
HPV type 73 is location-specific, with Sweden having the highest number of positive cases, and has been linked to the following types of cancer:
- Anal
- Penile
- Periungual squamous cell
- Digital squamous cell
HPV Type 81
Risk: Low (probably.)
Smear: No.
Private testing:
Vaccine: No.
You’ll likely have noticed lots of probable/probably in this HPV strains list, and there’s a reason for that: HPV is surprising. Just when we think that we’ve nailed things and figured it all out, along comes another strain, or another symptom, or a new action (i.e. causing cancer) that we didn’t think it did before. Experts can’t even agree on whether or not certain types belong in which risk bracket, and there are lots of strains with unknown variables. Just because we don’t know something yet, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen, you know?
HPV-81 is one of the most common strains of low-risk HPV, and it is super common for it to appear on a test along with HPV-72. They’re basically BFFs 4 lyfe.
The International Journal of Gynaecology says this:
“Types 52, 53, 81, and 83 were more likely to occur in multiple infections with other types.”
That basically means, if you have one of those four HPV strains, you probably have at least one other strain along with it. Not ideal, but also not the end of the world.
HPV Type 82
Risk: High (2B: possibly carcinogenic.)
Smear: Possibly.
Private testing: Yes.
Vaccine: No.
Data shows that around 0.1% of all global cervical cancer cases test positive for HPV-82. Research classed it as a “rare high-risk type” back in 2025, with around 0.24% of women attending hospitals for gynaecological physical examinations or medical consultations testing positive for it.
The science seems to suggest that a higher viral load plus a persistent infection leads to precancerous, then cancerous changes, with some suggesting that viral load should be specifically tested alongside the DNA presence of it. This high viral load estimation applies to several, if not all types of HPV, but specifically this one.
Further studies are necessary to properly understand HPV type 82, especially when it comes down to single and multiple strain infections – but, thankfully, the experts are aware, and are doing something about it. (Finally, but it is a rare strain, so we’ll let them off a bit.)
HPV Type 83
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
HPV type 83 is said to be closely related to both HPV-61 and HPV-72, and it often comes with at least one other strain at the same time, typically HPV-16 and HPV-58. This specific HPV strain has been linked to cancers in rare cases, but it more closely linked to benign cell changes, such as CIN1. Between CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and cervical cancer combined, HPV type 83 is said to account for around 0.1% to 22% of cases – which is a big ol’ range, isn’t it? Because of this, some experts put it into an intermediate risk category.
The truth is that this strain is less common strain than other types. Add that to the fact that is doesn’t usually cause cancer, and you have a type that requires more research and investigation. In studies that tracked more than 300,000 women, HPV-83 was nowhere near the top 15 more common strains.
HPV Type 84
Risk: Low (to moderate)
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
This type of HPV has not been linked to cancer, but as research papers state:
“Studies continue to evaluate its biological interactions.”
As with most strains or types of HPV, type 84 can be predictable (and has been, in the past.)
Some research suggests that HPV-84 prevalence is now “similar to or greater than” other strains that were thought to be more common, such as HPV-16, and especially in men. This specific strain is said to prefer male genital skin over female, despite being closely related to types HPV-16, 72, and 83.
HPV Type 85
Risk: High (probably.)
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
Most data for HPV tracks the most common and/or the most high-risk strains, so it can be really difficult to find statistics and figures for the less rare ones, such as HPV-85. Estimates put prevalence of this strain at around 0.1% to 0.5% of the entire population, which gives you some idea of just how rare it is.
HPV Type 89
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
This low-risk type of HPV doesn’t cause cancer, but it has rarely been linked with benign skin tumours and lesions, such as one case that was documented in 2015. Apocrine acrosyringeal keratosis is an incredibly rare type of non-cancerous skin tumour, and research does seem to suggest that there is a link between it and HPV-89.
Different studies have produced different prevalence rates for this particular strain, with some stating it amounts for 5% of HPV-positive clusters in Iran. Other studies, such as those in North India, estimate as high as 9.9%.
HPV Type 91
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
HPV-91 doesn’t carry the kind of mutations that cause cancer, so it is classed as a low-risk type. It’s also not associated with genital warts, and is rarely seen to cause CIN1 or other low-grade, non-cancerous changes.
There is no private test that includes HPV type 91, but there are cases on Reddit of people being swabbed at private clinics in Turkey and being told that they’ve tested positive for HPV-91. I’ve not found a clinic that offers this in the UK, but I will update this HPV strains list blog post with the relevant information if I find anything.
HPV Type 97
Risk: High.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
This is another of the strains on this HPV strains list that is classes as rare, but it is high-risk and, according to experts, it does share a “common evolutionary ancestor” with two high-risk strains: HPV-18 and HPV-45.
In a study that looked at HPV type 97 in HIV patients, HPV was commonly found in the anal canal of men. It wasn’t detected in female genital tracts.
There isn’t an awful lot of information on HPV in non-immunocompromised people, but the research shows that HPV-97 alone rarely causes cancer; it tends to happen when the strain comes with another high-risk strain, such as HPV-16.
HPV Type 102
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
A 2016 study that looked into HPV types in 135 HIV-positive gay/bisexual men in Italy showed two “uncommon” strains: HPV-102 and HPV-114. There is very little information on this strains aside from that, but it is low-risk, doesn’t usually cause cancer, and also doesn’t cause genital warts.
HPV Type 106
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
A 2014 study showed that both HPV type 102 and HPV type 106 “are most closely related to HPV83 (84.1 % identity) and HPV90 (83.5 % identity,)” but both lack the necessary mechanics that enable high-risk HPV strains to develop into cancer.
Both HPV-102 and HPV-106 were found in smear test samples from Hispanic women, one of which had smear results with “reactive changes,” and the other with atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS.) These were not cases of cancer, but they were cases of cell changes that could have been due to those two HPV strains.
HPV Type 114
Risk: Low.
Smear: No.
Private testing: No.
Vaccine: No.
Relatively new and found in fewer than 1.7% of cervical and/or genital samples, HPV-114 is classed as “very low” risk, which means that you have practically no chance of getting cervical (or other types of) cancer from it. Discovered in around 2009 and classed as a “novel” papillomavirus, it goes to show just how many potentially sexually-transmitted strains that we just don’t know about yet.
HPV Strains List: Summary
So, to summarise, here is another (mini) HPV strains list, plus their high/low categorisation, in a nice little table:
Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my blog today! 🖤
If you would like to know more about safe sex, STIs, or anything discussed in this blog post today, feel free to check out some of these: