What is HPV?
HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses, spread through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Some strains cause genital warts (low-risk types), while others (high-risk types, especially HPV 16 and 18) are linked to cervical, anal, throat, and penile cancers over time. Having HPV doesn’t mean you’ll develop cancer — most infections resolve on their own.
What are the symptoms of HPV?
Most people with HPV have no symptoms at all, which is why it spreads so easily. When symptoms appear, they can include:
- Genital warts: small, flesh-colored or gray bumps, sometimes clustered
- Warts in the throat (rare, from oral transmission)
- Abnormal cervical cells, detected only through a Pap smear — no symptoms on their own
High-risk HPV types that can lead to cancer typically cause no symptoms until changes are advanced, which is why screening is essential rather than waiting for warning signs.
How does HPV spread?
- Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner, even without visible warts
- Skin-to-skin genital contact, without penetration
- Rarely, from mother to baby during childbirth
Condoms reduce risk but don’t eliminate it, since HPV can infect skin areas a condom doesn’t cover.
How is HPV diagnosed?
- In women: a Pap smear (checks for abnormal cervical cells) and/or an HPV DNA test, usually starting at age 21–25 and repeated every 3–5 years depending on age and results.
- Visible warts are diagnosed by physical exam.
- There’s no routine approved test for HPV in men, though visible lesions can be evaluated directly.
What is the treatment for HPV?
There’s no cure for the virus itself, but its effects are treatable:
- Genital warts: removed with topical medication, freezing (cryotherapy), or minor in-office procedures.
- Abnormal cervical cells: monitored closely, or treated with a simple outpatient procedure if changes are moderate-to-severe.
- Most infections: the immune system clears the virus on its own within 12–24 months, with no treatment needed beyond monitoring.
Everything under one roof
Pap smear, HPV testing, gynecology consultation, and wart treatment are all available in the same visit, with confidential, same-day results at any of our 3 locations.
Due for a Pap smear or noticed a possible wart? Message us on WhatsApp to schedule a confidential same-day appointment.
When should you seek care for HPV?
There’s no emergency related to HPV itself, but seek prompt care if you notice new genital bumps or sores, unusual bleeding between periods or after intercourse, or if you’re overdue for a Pap smear — early detection is what prevents complications.
How can HPV be prevented?
- Get the HPV vaccine, ideally before becoming sexually active (recommended from age 9–12, though it can still help through the mid-20s).
- Use condoms consistently, which lowers — though doesn’t eliminate — transmission risk.
- Keep up with routine Pap smears and HPV screening on the schedule your doctor recommends.
- Limit the number of sexual partners and discuss HPV status openly with new partners.
Reviewed by: Dra. Itzel Aguayo, General Medicine, and Dr. David Hernández, Internal Medicine, Hospital CMQ. Review date: July 2026. References: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Cancer Society.