Is HPV harmless?

Most HPV infections go away on their own and don't cause any health problems. However, if HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts. It also can cause certain kinds of cancer. We do not know why HPV causes health problems in some people and not others.

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Is it serious if I have HPV?

Does HPV cause health problems? In most cases (9 out of 10), HPV goes away on its own within two years without health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area.

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Should I be worried HPV?

Most HPV infections do not cause any problems and are cleared by your body within 2 years. Treatment is needed if HPV causes problems like genital warts or changes to cells in the cervix.

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Can HPV be transmitted by kissing?

While sexual intercourse is the primary means of transmission, genital-to-genital interactions, oral-to-genital interactions, or deep (French) kissing can also spread the virus.

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How long is HPV contagious?

It's hard to know when people are no longer contagious, because there's no blood test that looks for HPV. Most of the time, HPV is gone within 2 years of when someone was infected.

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The 6 things you need to know about HPV

15 related questions found

How long does HPV last?

Most HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away by themselves within 2 years. But sometimes, HPV infections will last longer and can cause some cancers. HPV infections can cause cancers of the: Cervix, vagina, and vulva.

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How does HPV look like on a man?

Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. The warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size or number. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose genital warts by looking at them.

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Is HPV curable in females?

Is there a cure for HPV? There is no cure for the virus (HPV) itself. There are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause, such as genital warts, cervical changes, and cervical cancer.

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How does a man know if he has HPV?

While men can be infected with HPV, there are no approved tests available for men. However, your doctor may do an anal pap test if have had anal sex. Your doctor will be able to diagnose low-risk HPV and cutaneous HPV through a physical or visual exam.

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Should I say if I have HPV?

It's your decision whether or not to tell your partner you have HPV. If you do decide to tell your partner you have HPV, it might help to include these points: HPV is very common in women and men who have ever had sex - four out of five people will have HPV at some point in their lives, and most won't even know it.

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Do I need to tell my partner I have HPV?

Do I need to tell my partner? This is entirely your decision. Most men and women with HPV infection carry the infection without ever being aware of it. HPV infection does not need to be treated and in 95% cases, you would get rid of it through your immunity.

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How do I know if my HPV is bad?

Results
  1. Positive HPV test. A positive test result means that you have a type of high-risk HPV that's linked to cervical cancer. ...
  2. Negative HPV test. A negative test result means that you don't have any of the types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.

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What to do if Pap smear showed HPV?

If the HPV test is positive, you may need additional follow-up tests. Atypical glandular cells (AGC): Some glandular cells were found that do not look normal. This can be a sign of a more serious problem up inside the uterus, so your healthcare provider will likely ask you to come back for a colposcopy.

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Can stress cause HPV to flare up?

Those who said they were depressed or believed they had high levels of stress also still had an active HPV infection. HPV usually clears up on its own, but this study is really the first to indicate a link between stress and persistent HPV infection.

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How did I get HPV if I am married?

No, there are over 100 types of HPV, and they nearly all spread through close contact, but it doesn't have to be sexual contact. However, types of HPV that cause genital warts and other high-risk types of HPV are passed on through skin-to-skin contact with the genitals, vaginal, anal or oral sex or sharing sex toys.

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What kills HPV virus?

HPV can clear up naturally – as there is no cure for the underlying HPV infection, the only way to get rid of HPV is to wait for the immune system to clear the virus naturally.

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What does HPV look like on a woman?

The most common are small, hard sores called warts, but not everyone who has HPV gets them. They may be raised, flat, or shaped like a cauliflower, and they can be different sizes. They can show up on your genital area or other places, depending on the type of the virus you have. These warts often go away on their own.

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Is my partner cheating if I have HPV?

Having HPV does not mean that a person or their partner is having sex outside the current relationship. There is no treatment to eliminate HPV itself. HPV is usually dealt with by your body's immune system. HPV does not stop you having a normal sex life.

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Can antibiotics get rid of HPV?

HPV cannot be treated. Doctors can remove visible genital lesions and warts caused by HPV, but there is no cure for the virus. Unlike other sexually transmitted infections, HPV is caused by a virus and viruses cannot be cured with antibiotics.

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Can I spread HPV to my family?

Yes. Although most infections occur following intercourse, HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. Even more rarely, a mom can transmit the virus to her baby during birth.

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Why don t condoms protect against HPV?

HPV is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Because HPV can infect areas that are not covered by the condom, condoms will not fully protect you against HPV, but condoms do help in HPV prevention.

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What does it mean when your HPV is positive?

A positive HPV test means you do have an HPV type that may be linked to cervical cancer. This does not mean you have cervical cancer now. But it could be a warning. The specific HPV type may be identified to determine the next step.

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Can you hug people with HPV?

It's mostly spread through sexual intercourse, genital skin-to-skin contact and oral sex. And it's very common. In fact, it's more common than all other sexually transmitted infections combined! HPV is not spread by casual contact, such as hugging, shaking hands, sneezing or coughing.

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