If you’re sexually active, it’s likely you’ll be infected by the human papillomavirus (HPV) at some time in your life. Most people with HPV don’t develop any symptoms or health problems from the virus because the body’s immune system is able to fight off the infection.
“Most women and men with the virus will never know they have it,” says Vanessa Cullins, MD, MPH, a retired board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and former vice president for medical affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Still, some people do develop genital warts, which can come from certain types of HPV. Some women learn they have HPV after an abnormal Pap smear, a procedure in which a doctor collects cells from the cervix to check for cancerous or precancerous changes.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn’t currently recommend routine HPV screening for men, those at higher risk, including people with HIV or men who receive anal sex, can also receive HPV testing.
If you’re concerned about contracting HPV, talk to your doctor about which tests are available and recommended for you.
5 Ways to Lower Your Risk of HPV Infection and Transmission
If you know you’re infected with HPV — or even if you’re not sure — what can you do to safeguard yourself and your sexual partner from HPV transmission?
First, assume you’ll be living with some type of HPV virus at some point in your life. “Everyone who is sexually active, vaccinated or not, should make this assumption,” Dr. Cullins says.
Then consider these steps to help protect yourself and anyone with whom you have intimate contact.
1. Get Vaccinated and Encourage Your Partner to Do So
The CDC recommends getting the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12 — likely before any exposure to sexually transmitted strains of HPV occurs. While that’s the traditional age to get vaccinated, the HPV vaccine is still recommended for everyone age 26 and younger.
Even if you didn’t get the vaccine before age 26, it may not be too late. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its approval of the HPV vaccine used in the United States — Gardasil 9 — to include adults up to age 45.
Keep in mind that FDA approval of the vaccine doesn’t guarantee your health insurance will cover its cost. Adults ages 27 to 45 who are interested in being vaccinated against HPV should check with their insurer first to make sure they’re not faced with surprise medical expenses.
Gardasil 9 protects against the two HPV strains that cause most genital warts, types 6 and 11, as well as against seven cancer-causing types of HPV, including HPV types 16 and 18.
Other HPV vaccines, including an earlier form of Gardasil, may protect against fewer types of HPV.
The HPV vaccine has been found to be both safe and effective, and when possible, it should be your first-line strategy for preventing HPV infection.
2. Use Condoms During Sex
HPV spreads by direct contact, so it’s important to use condoms every time you have sex, from start to finish. Consistent use of condoms will reduce your risk for HPV transmission, but it won’t completely eliminate it. The virus may spread from areas of the skin not covered by a condom.
Use condoms or dental dams for vaginal, oral, or anal sex, and never reuse condoms.
3. Get Regular Medical and Dental Checkups
Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV infection, and it’s usually curable when found early.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends getting screened for cervical cancer starting at age 25. Between ages 25 and 65, the ACS recommends screening every three to five years — depending on the test type and collection method — to look for early signs of cancer.
The ACS guidelines on cervical screening include a self-collection option that tests for HPV. It recommends that screenings with self-collected vaginal samples be repeated every three years. Meanwhile, screenings with clinician-collected samples of cervical cells, which often include a Pap test and HPV screening, can occur every five years.
Those with HIV and men who receive anal sex may benefit from anal exams, anal pap smears, and HPV testing to help detect precancerous or cancerous anal conditions.
While no equivalent screening tests exist to detect precancerous conditions of the mouth or throat, “routine preventive dental and medical care is one of the best prescriptions for ongoing health,” Cullins says.
HPV can cause genital warts, which usually appear as a small, flat bump or groups of bumps in the genital area. If not treated, genital warts can grow larger.
If you or your partner is being treated for an HPV-related infection, refrain from having sex until treatment is completed.
5. Practice Good Genital Hygiene
After having sex, urinate to rinse any germs from your urethra, and wash your genitals with soap and water. This can help clean away bacteria or viruses before they have time to infect you.
The Takeaway
The majority of sexually active people will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives.
Most HPV infections are asymptomatic, but some cause cervical and other forms of cancer.
Vaccination, regular screenings, and consistent condom use can all help prevent HPV transmission and complications.
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.
John Paul McHugh, MD, is an obstetrician-gynecologist and lifestyle medicine specialist in southern California. He has always placed wellness at the center of his work, in both delivering babies and improving practice standards. Dr. McHugh believes that bringing lifestyle medicine to the center of health and wellness empowers patients to make the change they seek and enjoy the benefits of true wellness.
He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He served as a department chair at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego and is now the chair-elect for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for California.
He has published several articles in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine and served as a peer reviewer for many articles. He contributed to the first textbook of lifestyle medicine in women's health: Improving Women's Health Across the Lifespan.
Beth W. Orenstein is a freelance writer for HealthDay, Radiology Today, the Living Well section of TheAmerican Legion Magazine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and others. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University (1978), where she majored in English and was editor of the student newspaper for three years.
No matter the weather around her eastern Pennsylvania home, Orenstein either bikes 25 to 30 miles or walks at least 6 miles every day. Her one indulgence is blueberry pancakes — but only after biking a long distance.
