- Nearly everyone who has sex will contract HPV, but your body will often clear the virus on its own.
- The HPV vaccine can help protect you from new strains and high-risk strains that may lead to cancer.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of virtually all cases of cervical cancer, yet an estimated 67% of American women don't know HPV causes cervical cancers, says Dr. Jeff Andrews, a VP of Medical Affairs at BD.
More than 150 total strains of HPV exist, and about 40 of these can cause cancer, including cancer of the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, anus, mouth, and throat.
People of all genders can contract HPV, and most people will come into contact with this virus at some point in life.
However, there's currently no HPV test available for people assigned male at birth. That's what makes it so important — for people of any gender — to know how HPV is transmitted and take preventive measures, like getting vaccinated.
Read on to learn more about HPV in women, including how to get a diagnosis if you suspect you could have this common virus and guidance from experts on what to do next.
Symptoms
Unfortunately, most people who contract HPV don't know it because HPV often doesn't cause any physical symptoms. However, the two symptoms you might experience are:
- Genital warts: These bumps can be raised or flat. They come in various shapes and sizes and may appear inside or outside of the vagina or anus. They may also grow on your lips, mouth, or tongue if HPV is transferred orally, though this is rare.
- Abnormal Pap smear results: Abnormal results may point to HPV, other STIs, and in some cases, cancer.
Causes of HPV in women
It's possible to contract HPV without having sex. However, HPV is most commonly caused by skin-to-skin contact through sexual activity — including vaginal, oral, or anal sex — with someone who has HPV.
Note: In rare cases, non-cancerous HPV may be passed from mother to newborn at birth.
You can't contract HPV by:
- Swimming in a pool or hot tub
- Sitting on a toilet seat
- Hugging someone or holding their hand
- Sharing drinks, food, or utensils
- Avoiding bathing or showering
How to get a diagnosis
The American Cancer Society recommends getting an HPV test every five years, beginning at age 25. If your results come back "normal," you won't need to continue testing past the age of 65.
There are a few different ways to test for HPV, including:
- Primary HPV screening: This involves testing for HPV first and only performing a Pap smear if the HPV test comes back positive, Andrews says. This type of testing is the preferred method because it checks for the most high-risk types of HPV, including those most likely to cause cervical cancer.
- Pap smear: A Pap test checks for cell changes or abnormal cells in your cervix. Abnormal results don't automatically mean you have cancer, but they may signal other complications. If your results come back "unclear" or "abnormal," your care team will likely recommend additional testing. You can get a Pap test every three years, and this test may be a good option if HPV screening is unavailable near you.
- Co-testing: Co-testing involves having both an HPV test and Pap test done every five years.
Generally speaking, getting tested for HPV regularly matters more than the specific type of test you have performed. Keep in mind, too, that your doctor may recommend more frequent screening if you previously received abnormal test results.
HPV treatment
Experts have yet to find a treatment for HPV itself. That said, you can get treatment to address genital warts, precancerous cells, and some cancers caused by HPV.
Medical term: Precancerous cells are abnormal cells that may become cancerous.
Cervical cancer is the only type of HPV-related cancer that can be detected early on, and it's one of the few cancers that are almost entirely preventable, Andrews says. With early treatment and intervention, it's possible to recover from cervical cancer.
- Genital warts: Treatment may include prescription medications like imiquimod, surgical removal, and freezing with liquid nitrogen.
- Precancerous cells: Treatment may include surgical removal, freezing through cryotherapy, and thermal removal.
- Cervical cancer: Treatment typically includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Possible complications of HPV
Many HPV strains cause little to no health problems and only appear as genital warts. What's more, your body may naturally clear these low-risk strains on its own within two years.
High-risk strains of HPV, on the other hand, pose a serious health risk as they could lead to multiple types of cancer.
Important: HPV causes 90% of all cervical cancers.
Every year in the US, there are, on average:
- Almost 200,000 cases of cervical dysplasia — aka cervical precancer — which is the growth of abnormal cells on your cervix.
- 11,000 diagnoses of cervical cancer
Other potential factors that may increase your risk of cervical cancer include:
- Smoking
- A weakened immune system, which means you're more likely to get sick and stay sick for longer.
- Skipping routine Pap tests: These tests help detect precancerous cells so you can catch them in time for treatment. Not getting tested increases the chances of these cells going undetected, which can make it harder to treat them.
According to 2023 estimates from the American Cancer Society:
- Nearly 14,000 women will get a diagnosis of cervical cancer within the year.
- More than 4,000 women will die from this type of cancer.
Preventing HPV
Nearly everyone who has sex will get HPV at least once in their lifetime — which is why it's important to get the HPV vaccine.
A one-time vaccination can prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers, according to Heather M. Brandt, director of the HPV Cancer Prevention Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The vaccine protects against HPV strains that cause warts and the seven most common high-risk strains that can lead to cancer, says Dr. Melanie Bone, an OB-GYN and medical board member at Daye.
Important: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children receive the HPV vaccination around age 11 or 12, as the vaccine is less effective once you begin having sex.
According to Dr. Monte Swarup, founder of the HPV information site HPV HUB, you can also take other steps to lower your HPV risk, including:
- Getting regular screenings: Having an HPV test, Pap test, or co-test done every three to five years can be the only way to tell whether or not you've contracted HPV. If your test results come back abnormal, your doctor may recommend getting screened for HPV more often.
- Using condoms or other barrier methods: Using condoms when having sex with a new partner may help lower your chances of contracting HPV. Just keep in mind that condoms only protect the affected area, so it's still possible to develop HPV through other types of skin-to-skin contact, such as oral sex and foreplay.
Quick tip: External condoms that cover the penis don't offer total protection against HPV because they don't cover all the skin around the genitals. Internal condoms that cover both the vulva and labia offer a higher level of protection, Bone says.
It's even more important to get regular screening for HPV and other STIs if you have multiple sexual partners — since the more partners you or your partner have, the higher your chances of contracting HPV.
Insider's takeaway
HPV often causes no symptoms at all, which can make it harder to know if you've contracted the virus.
Getting tested for HPV regularly is the best way to make sure that you receive treatment as soon as possible to prevent further health complications, such as cancer.
Receiving the HPV vaccine is another great step toward lowering your risk of both HPV and cancer. This vaccine can prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers and may also lower your chances of contracting a new HPV infection.