Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLifestylePrescriptionsSpecialist ProceduresVaccinationFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Lifestyle
Prescriptions
Specialist Procedures
Vaccination
Frequently Asked Questions
Treatment forhuman papillomavirus(HPV)involves managing health conditions that arise from this common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and preventing it.
There are over 200 types of HPV viruses.Some low-risk types can causegenital warts, while other high-risk types can lead to cancer, includingcervical cancerandanal cancer.
Although there is avaccineto prevent HPV, there is no cure for the virus itself. People with high-risk HPV types should be routinely monitored to check for changes that could lead to cancer and potentially have surgery.
This article explores the various approaches to managing HPV, including those used to treat genital warts and those used to avoid HPV-related cancers.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
There are no home remedies that can directly treatHPV symptoms. However, there are things you can do to better avoid cancer if you have been diagnosed with one of the 14 high-risk HPV types.
How Closely Are HPV and Cancer Linked?
If you have been diagnosed with a high-risk type, like HPV16 and HPV18, it doesn’t mean that you will get cancer. In fact, many infections will resolve on their own without treatment.
But, if the HPV infection persists, it may be in your best interest to practice safer sex and quit smoking to reduce your odds of getting cancer. Here’s why:
Practice Safer Sex
If you have HPV, condoms,dental dams, and other forms of safer sex not only prevent the spread of HPV to others, but they also protect you from gettingsexually transmitted infections (STIs).
In people with HPV, some STIs can facilitate changes in cells that lead to cancer. This includeschlamydia, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that studies suggest may help HPV grow and survive on the cervix.
Avoiding having multiple sex partners can also reduce your risk of acquiring HPV and transmitting it to others.
How to Prevent HIV With PrEP
Quitting Cigarettes
Smoking cigarettes doubles the risk of cervical cancer compared to not smoking.Studies have long suggested that females with high-risk HPV who smoke are more likely to develop cervical cancer than females with high-risk HPV who don’t smoke.
The risks extend well beyond just cervical cancer. There is strong evidence that smoking can also increase the risk of HPV-relatedhead and neck cancer.
The HPV types that cause genital warts rarely cause cancer. Even so, they can be itchy, painful, or unsightly.
Most genital warts will resolve on their own without treatment within 18 to 24 months.If they don’t (or the warts are especially distressing), your healthcare provider can prescribe medications that you apply at home to help clear them.
There are three at-home preparations commonly prescribed for genital or anal warts:
Are Genital Warts Like Other Warts?Genital warts are not the same as warts found on the feet, hands, or other parts of the body. They shouldnotbe treated with over-the-counter wart removers, as these products are not intended for use on the genitals or anus.
Are Genital Warts Like Other Warts?
Genital warts are not the same as warts found on the feet, hands, or other parts of the body. They shouldnotbe treated with over-the-counter wart removers, as these products are not intended for use on the genitals or anus.
What Genital Warts Look Like
Surgery and Specialist-Driven Procedures
Specialist procedures, including surgery, are sometimes used to treat genital warts that are not responsive to prescribed treatments. The same applies to HPV-related changes in cells that can lead to cancer, referred to asdysplasia.
Genital Warts
Healthcare providers sometimes recommend a watch-and-wait approach if a genital wart is small and uncomplicated. The hope is that it will eventually go away on its own without treatment.
If it doesn’t and prescription medications fail to clear them, there are several in-office procedures that may help:
What You Should Know About Anal Warts
Dysplasia
These changes range fromlow-grade(meaning the cells look mildly abnormal under the microscope) tohigh-grade(meaning the cells look severely abnormal under the microscope). When changes occur in the cervix, it is referred to ascervical dysplasia.
While mild dysplasia usually resolves on its own within two years, more aggressive forms may progress to an early form of cancer known ascarcinoma in situ(CIS).
Cervical dysplasia can be diagnosed with aPap smear. If you have an abnormal Pap smear result, a procedure called acolposcopywithbiopsywill be ordered to view the cervix and take a tissue sample for evaluation.
If there is evidence of cervical dysplasia, the healthcare provider may take a watch-and-wait approach if the dysplasia is mild. If the dysplasia is severe, they will want to remove the affected tissues with one of several procedures:
These and other procedures (such as electrocautery and laser therapy) may be used to treat HPV-related dysplasia in the throat, anus, vulva, penis, tonsils, or mouth.
What About Anal Pap Smears?Although ananal Pap smearis available to check for anal dysplasia, it is not routinely used and no specific recommendations for its use have been issued. Even so, people at high risk of anal cancer—namely,men who have sex with men (MSM)with HIV—can opt to be screened.
What About Anal Pap Smears?
Although ananal Pap smearis available to check for anal dysplasia, it is not routinely used and no specific recommendations for its use have been issued. Even so, people at high risk of anal cancer—namely,men who have sex with men (MSM)with HIV—can opt to be screened.
Can HPV Cause Breast Cancer?
Vaccination to prevent HPV infection is recommended for all children aged 11 to 12, but can be given as early as age 9 and up to age 46.If you were not vaccinated, discuss your options with a healthcare provider. By preventing HPV infection, further treatment will not be necessary.
This doesn’t mean that the current preventive vaccine, called Gardasil-9, doesn’t play a role in people who already have HPV. It actually does.
If you have been diagnosed with HPV but have no symptoms, you may be advised to get vaccinated to protect against the most common high-risk HPV types.Doing so provides added protection if you have one type of HPV but not another (such as HPV16 and HPV18, which account for most HPV-related cancers).
Who Should Be Vaccinated for HPV?
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Summary
There is no cure for human papillomavirus (HPV). The treatment instead focuses onmanaging the conditions that HPV can cause. Preventing infection, especially through vaccination, is important.
This includes genital and HPV warts. These conditions may be treated with topical prescription drugs or removed with procedures like cryotherapy, laser therapy, electrocautery, and surgery.
A Word From Verywell
While an HPV diagnosis can be distressing, it helps you catch any problems before they become serious or even life-threatening.
In the unlikely event that cancer is diagnosed, early treatment almost invariably leads to better outcomes.
HPV is most commonly spread through vaginal or anal sex. But it can also be spread through skin-to-skin contact during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccination for:All children at age 11 or 12 years (although vaccination can start as young as nine)Any person through age 26 who has not been vaccinatedAnyone 27 through 45 years who has not been vaccinated can also get the vaccine after speaking with their healthcare provider about their risk of infection and the possible benefits of vaccination.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccination for:
Anyone 27 through 45 years who has not been vaccinated can also get the vaccine after speaking with their healthcare provider about their risk of infection and the possible benefits of vaccination.
24 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.American Cancer Society.Risk factors for cervical cancer.Stelzle D, Tanaka LF, Lee KK, et al.Estimates of the global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV.Lancet Glob Health.2021 Feb;9(2):e161-e169. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30459-9Saleem AM, Paulus JK, Shapter AP, Baxter NN, Roberts PL, Ricciardi R.Risk of anal cancer in a cohort with human papillomavirus-related gynecologic neoplasm.Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Mar;117(3):643-9. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31820bfb16Marima R, Hull R, Lolas G.The catastrophic HPV/HIV dual viral oncogenomics in concert with dysregulated alternative splicing in cervical cancer.Int J Mol Sci.2021 Sep;22(18):10115. doi:10.3390/ijms221810115Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K.Condoms: Past, present, and future.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015 Dec;36(2):133-139. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167135Aguayo F, Munoz JP, Perez-Dominguez F, et al.High-risk human papillomavirus and tobacco smoke interactions in epithelial carcinogenesis.Cancers (Basel).2020 Aug;12(8):2201. doi:10.3390/cancers12082201Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anogenital warts.3M Pharmaceutical.Aldara (imiquimod) cream, 5%.Oclassen Pharmaceuticals.Condylox (podofilox) gel, 0.5%.Doak Dermatologics.Veregen (sinecatechins) ointment, 15%.World Health Organization.Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.Perkins RB, Guido RS, Castle PE, et al.2019 ASCCP risk-based management consensus guidelines for abnormal cervical cancer screening tests and cancer precursors.J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2020;24(2):102-131. doi:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000525Akhtar M, Al-Bozom IA, Ben Gashir M, Taha NM, Rashid S, Al-Nabet ADMH.Urothelial carcinoma In situ (CIS): new insights.Adv Anat Pathol. 2019;26(5):313‐9. doi:10.1097/PAP.0000000000000239Planned Parenthood.What is cryotherapy?.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).Weis SE.Current treatment options for management of anal intraepithelial neoplasia.Onco Targets Ther.2013;6:651–65. doi:10.2147/OTT.S38217U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.American Academy of Family Physicians.Cervical dysplasia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination.Rumfield CS, Roller N, Pellom ST, Schlom J, Jochem C.Therapeutic vaccines for HPV-associated malignancies.Immunotargets Ther.2020;9:167–200. doi:10.2147/ITT.S273327Fontham ETH, Wolf AMD, Church TR, et al.Cervical cancer screening for individuals at average risk: 2020 guideline update from the American Cancer Society.CA A Cancer J Clin. 2020;70(5):321-46. doi:10.3322/caac.21628Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection - fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccine recommendations.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.American Cancer Society.Risk factors for cervical cancer.Stelzle D, Tanaka LF, Lee KK, et al.Estimates of the global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV.Lancet Glob Health.2021 Feb;9(2):e161-e169. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30459-9Saleem AM, Paulus JK, Shapter AP, Baxter NN, Roberts PL, Ricciardi R.Risk of anal cancer in a cohort with human papillomavirus-related gynecologic neoplasm.Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Mar;117(3):643-9. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31820bfb16Marima R, Hull R, Lolas G.The catastrophic HPV/HIV dual viral oncogenomics in concert with dysregulated alternative splicing in cervical cancer.Int J Mol Sci.2021 Sep;22(18):10115. doi:10.3390/ijms221810115Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K.Condoms: Past, present, and future.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015 Dec;36(2):133-139. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167135Aguayo F, Munoz JP, Perez-Dominguez F, et al.High-risk human papillomavirus and tobacco smoke interactions in epithelial carcinogenesis.Cancers (Basel).2020 Aug;12(8):2201. doi:10.3390/cancers12082201Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anogenital warts.3M Pharmaceutical.Aldara (imiquimod) cream, 5%.Oclassen Pharmaceuticals.Condylox (podofilox) gel, 0.5%.Doak Dermatologics.Veregen (sinecatechins) ointment, 15%.World Health Organization.Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.Perkins RB, Guido RS, Castle PE, et al.2019 ASCCP risk-based management consensus guidelines for abnormal cervical cancer screening tests and cancer precursors.J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2020;24(2):102-131. doi:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000525Akhtar M, Al-Bozom IA, Ben Gashir M, Taha NM, Rashid S, Al-Nabet ADMH.Urothelial carcinoma In situ (CIS): new insights.Adv Anat Pathol. 2019;26(5):313‐9. doi:10.1097/PAP.0000000000000239Planned Parenthood.What is cryotherapy?.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).Weis SE.Current treatment options for management of anal intraepithelial neoplasia.Onco Targets Ther.2013;6:651–65. doi:10.2147/OTT.S38217U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.American Academy of Family Physicians.Cervical dysplasia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination.Rumfield CS, Roller N, Pellom ST, Schlom J, Jochem C.Therapeutic vaccines for HPV-associated malignancies.Immunotargets Ther.2020;9:167–200. doi:10.2147/ITT.S273327Fontham ETH, Wolf AMD, Church TR, et al.Cervical cancer screening for individuals at average risk: 2020 guideline update from the American Cancer Society.CA A Cancer J Clin. 2020;70(5):321-46. doi:10.3322/caac.21628Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection - fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccine recommendations.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.American Cancer Society.Risk factors for cervical cancer.Stelzle D, Tanaka LF, Lee KK, et al.Estimates of the global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV.Lancet Glob Health.2021 Feb;9(2):e161-e169. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30459-9Saleem AM, Paulus JK, Shapter AP, Baxter NN, Roberts PL, Ricciardi R.Risk of anal cancer in a cohort with human papillomavirus-related gynecologic neoplasm.Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Mar;117(3):643-9. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31820bfb16Marima R, Hull R, Lolas G.The catastrophic HPV/HIV dual viral oncogenomics in concert with dysregulated alternative splicing in cervical cancer.Int J Mol Sci.2021 Sep;22(18):10115. doi:10.3390/ijms221810115Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K.Condoms: Past, present, and future.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015 Dec;36(2):133-139. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167135Aguayo F, Munoz JP, Perez-Dominguez F, et al.High-risk human papillomavirus and tobacco smoke interactions in epithelial carcinogenesis.Cancers (Basel).2020 Aug;12(8):2201. doi:10.3390/cancers12082201Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anogenital warts.3M Pharmaceutical.Aldara (imiquimod) cream, 5%.Oclassen Pharmaceuticals.Condylox (podofilox) gel, 0.5%.Doak Dermatologics.Veregen (sinecatechins) ointment, 15%.World Health Organization.Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.Perkins RB, Guido RS, Castle PE, et al.2019 ASCCP risk-based management consensus guidelines for abnormal cervical cancer screening tests and cancer precursors.J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2020;24(2):102-131. doi:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000525Akhtar M, Al-Bozom IA, Ben Gashir M, Taha NM, Rashid S, Al-Nabet ADMH.Urothelial carcinoma In situ (CIS): new insights.Adv Anat Pathol. 2019;26(5):313‐9. doi:10.1097/PAP.0000000000000239Planned Parenthood.What is cryotherapy?.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).Weis SE.Current treatment options for management of anal intraepithelial neoplasia.Onco Targets Ther.2013;6:651–65. doi:10.2147/OTT.S38217U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.American Academy of Family Physicians.Cervical dysplasia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination.Rumfield CS, Roller N, Pellom ST, Schlom J, Jochem C.Therapeutic vaccines for HPV-associated malignancies.Immunotargets Ther.2020;9:167–200. doi:10.2147/ITT.S273327Fontham ETH, Wolf AMD, Church TR, et al.Cervical cancer screening for individuals at average risk: 2020 guideline update from the American Cancer Society.CA A Cancer J Clin. 2020;70(5):321-46. doi:10.3322/caac.21628Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection - fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccine recommendations.
National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.
American Cancer Society.Risk factors for cervical cancer.
Stelzle D, Tanaka LF, Lee KK, et al.Estimates of the global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV.Lancet Glob Health.2021 Feb;9(2):e161-e169. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30459-9
Saleem AM, Paulus JK, Shapter AP, Baxter NN, Roberts PL, Ricciardi R.Risk of anal cancer in a cohort with human papillomavirus-related gynecologic neoplasm.Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Mar;117(3):643-9. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31820bfb16
Marima R, Hull R, Lolas G.The catastrophic HPV/HIV dual viral oncogenomics in concert with dysregulated alternative splicing in cervical cancer.Int J Mol Sci.2021 Sep;22(18):10115. doi:10.3390/ijms221810115
Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K.Condoms: Past, present, and future.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015 Dec;36(2):133-139. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167135
Aguayo F, Munoz JP, Perez-Dominguez F, et al.High-risk human papillomavirus and tobacco smoke interactions in epithelial carcinogenesis.Cancers (Basel).2020 Aug;12(8):2201. doi:10.3390/cancers12082201
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anogenital warts.
3M Pharmaceutical.Aldara (imiquimod) cream, 5%.
Oclassen Pharmaceuticals.Condylox (podofilox) gel, 0.5%.
Doak Dermatologics.Veregen (sinecatechins) ointment, 15%.
World Health Organization.Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.
Perkins RB, Guido RS, Castle PE, et al.2019 ASCCP risk-based management consensus guidelines for abnormal cervical cancer screening tests and cancer precursors.J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2020;24(2):102-131. doi:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000525
Akhtar M, Al-Bozom IA, Ben Gashir M, Taha NM, Rashid S, Al-Nabet ADMH.Urothelial carcinoma In situ (CIS): new insights.Adv Anat Pathol. 2019;26(5):313‐9. doi:10.1097/PAP.0000000000000239
Planned Parenthood.What is cryotherapy?.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).
Weis SE.Current treatment options for management of anal intraepithelial neoplasia.Onco Targets Ther.2013;6:651–65. doi:10.2147/OTT.S38217
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Cervical dysplasia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination.
Rumfield CS, Roller N, Pellom ST, Schlom J, Jochem C.Therapeutic vaccines for HPV-associated malignancies.Immunotargets Ther.2020;9:167–200. doi:10.2147/ITT.S273327
Fontham ETH, Wolf AMD, Church TR, et al.Cervical cancer screening for individuals at average risk: 2020 guideline update from the American Cancer Society.CA A Cancer J Clin. 2020;70(5):321-46. doi:10.3322/caac.21628
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection - fact sheet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccine recommendations.
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