7 HPV Myths Debunked
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)HPV

7 Common Myths About HPV

7 Common Myths About HPV
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Updated on January 16, 2026
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The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, with about 13 million new cases each year.

 If it does not go away on its own and is left untreated, it could lead to cancer.

Despite HPV’s prevalence, there are many misconceptions about who gets it, how they get it, and what a diagnosis means.

1. Myth: Only Women Get HPV

Anyone can get HPV through intimate contact with an infected partner, regardless of the partner’s sex or if the partner has HPV symptoms.

Men can develop genital warts from certain types of HPV. While cancers from HPV are not common among men in general, men with weakened immune systems, including those living with HIV, are at higher risk of developing cancer of the penis, anus, and back of the throat.

2. Myth: All Types of HPV Cause Cancer

HPV is actually a group of more than 200 related viruses, and most do not cause cancer. Most also go away on their own.

The types of HPV that cause skin warts and genital warts are less likely to cause cancer. High-risk HPVs, including types 16 and 18, can evade your immune system and are more likely to cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, penis, or back of the throat.

When a high-risk type of HPV does persist, it can take years or decades for cancer to develop, and it will not show symptoms until then.

 That’s why women and people with a cervix are advised to get screened for cervical cancer every 3 to 5 years, depending on the screening method, from age 25 to at least age 65. Your doctor may request more frequent screenings if you have additional risk factors, such as a weakened immune system, abnormal past screening results, or having had cervical cancer in the past.

3. Myth: Men Can Get Screened for HPV

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved an HPV test for people who do not have a cervix. HPV tests like the Pap test, or Pap smear, typically look for HPV and cancerous or precancerous cells in the cervix.

Men and women who are at higher risk for anal HPV may be referred for a rectal exam or anal cytology testing, also called the anal Pap test, to look for abnormal cells.

4. Myth: You Won’t Get HPV if You Don’t Have Sex

HPV can spread through skin-to-skin contact, not only through sexual intercourse.

Using condoms can lower your risk of contracting HPV, but you can still be exposed to the virus if it’s present in skin not covered by a condom.

5. Myth: There Is a Cure for HPV

No treatment for HPV can remove the virus itself. If you test positive for HPV, that means you’ll likely have the infection until your body clears it — and during this time it’s possible to pass the virus to other people.

Treatment options are available for precancerous lesions, cancers, and genital warts that HPV infections cause.

6. Myth: People With HPV Always Have Symptoms

Most people with an HPV infection don’t develop any symptoms. In 90 percent of HPV cases, the infection goes away within two years.

 Some high-risk HPV cases, however, may not reveal symptoms until cells become cancerous.

7. Myth: I Got the HPV Vaccine, so I Don’t Need to Get Pap Tests

The HPV vaccine works to protect you from infections causing complications, but it does not protect you from getting other types of HPV.

 It is recommended, however, for everyone ages 11 to 45, though vaccinations can begin at 9 years old.

If you have a cervix, you still should follow recommendations for your age group for getting regular Pap tests or HPV tests to screen for HPV-related changes that can lead to cervical cancer.

Gardasil 9, the HPV vaccine used in the United States, protects against nine types of HPV, including those that cause genital warts and cancer.

The Takeaway

  • There are more than 13 million new cases of HPV in the United States each year, but most go away on their own within two years.
  • Although HPV does not cause cancer in most cases, it can be linked to cancer of the anus, cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, or throat.
  • HPV can affect anyone, especially those who have sexual contact, though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only approved testing for people who have a cervix.
  • The HPV vaccine is recommended for people from late childhood to age 45, but it alone is not a substitute for HPV and Pap tests.

Resources We Trust

Additional reporting by Quinn Phillips.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. About HPV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 3, 2024.
  2. Human Papillomavirus. Office on Women’s Health. October 24, 2025.
  3. Myths and Misconceptions About HPV. American Sexual Health Association. November 21, 2025.
  4. Cancers Caused by HPV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. March 3, 2025.
  5. Types of HPV. American Cancer Society. April 30, 2024.
  6. HPV (Human Papillomavirus). Cleveland Clinic. October 20, 2024.
  7. The American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening. American Cancer Society. December 4, 2025.
  8. HPV Test. Cleveland Clinic. November 9, 2023.
  9. Anal Cancer Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging. American Cancer Society. November 20, 2025.
  10. About Genital HPV Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 31, 2025.
  11. HPV and Cancer. National Cancer Institute. May 9, 2025.
  12. HPV Vaccine. Cleveland Clinic. November 9, 2023.
  13. HPV Vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 20, 2024.
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Kara Smythe, MD

Medical Reviewer

Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and her interests include improving maternal health, ensuring access to contraception, and promoting sexual health.

She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in biology and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She worked in Maine for six years, where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved population.

Smythe is also passionate about the ways that public health policies shape individual health outcomes. She has a master’s degree in population health from University College London and recently completed a social science research methods master's degree at Cardiff University. She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology. Her research examines people's experiences of accessing, using, and discontinuing long-acting reversible contraception.

When she’s not working, Smythe enjoys dancing, photography, and spending time with her family and her cat, Finnegan.

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Nancie George is a former senior editor for Everyday Health. She received her bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She has served as associate editor for a medical publishing company in New York City and held an editorial position at the largest continuing medical education company in the Southeast. George has written for magazines including Infectious Disease Special Edition and Florida International Magazine.

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