That skin-to-skin contact can be sexual in nature or not. That means that practically anybody can contract HPV. Anyone who is sexually active can get the strains of HPV that can cause genital warts or certain types of cancer. Even if there are no signs or symptoms of the virus, you or your partner can still be contagious.
And because HPV symptoms can take months or years to show up, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when and where you picked it up. In the vast majority of cases, men infected with HPV have no symptoms. Signs of HPV can include warts on the genitals, anus or groin area; common warts on the hands, fingers or face; and plantar warts, hard growths on the soles of your feet. Current treatments are aimed at the symptoms of HPV, such as warts, and include medication and removing growths with cryotherapy or lasers.
Most cases of HPV go away on their own—more than 90 percent of HPV infections are cleared by the immune system within two years, usually within the first six months after infection, the CDC says.
Every year, about 19, women and 12, men are affected by cancers caused by HPV. Genital cancer is much rarer in men than it is in women. An HPV test can be done using the same sample from the Pap test or by collecting a second sample from the cervical canal.
In a Pap test, your doctor uses a vaginal speculum to hold your vaginal walls apart and to see the cervix. Next, a sample of cells from your cervix is collected using a small cone-shaped brush and a tiny plastic spatula 1 and 2.
Your doctor then rinses the brush and spatula in a liquid-filled vial 3 and sends the vial to a laboratory for testing. A combination Pap- HPV test is performed in your doctor's office and takes only a few minutes. You may be asked to undress completely or only from the waist down. You'll lie on your back on an exam table with your knees bent.
Your heels rest in supports called stirrups. Your doctor will gently insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina. The speculum holds the vaginal walls apart so that your doctor can easily see your cervix.
Inserting the speculum may cause a sensation of pressure in your pelvic area. Sometimes the speculum feels cold when it's first inserted. Your doctor will then take samples of your cervical cells using a soft brush and a flat scraping device called a spatula. This doesn't hurt, and you may not even feel the sample being taken. After your test, you can go about your normal daily activities without any restrictions. Ask your doctor about when you can expect to receive your test results.
Results from your HPV test will come back as either positive or negative. Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. You will rest your feet in supports called stirrups. Your health care provider will use a plastic or metal instrument called a speculum to open the vagina, so the cervix can be seen.
Your provider will then use a soft brush or plastic spatula to collect cells from the cervix. If you are also getting a pap smear, your provider may use the same sample for both tests, or collect a second sample of cells. You should not have the test while you are having your period. You should also avoid certain activities before testing.
Starting two days before your test, you should not:. There are no known risks to an HPV test. You may feel some mild discomfort during the procedure. Afterward, you may have a little bleeding or other vaginal discharge. No high-risk HPV was found.
Your health care provider may recommend you come back for another screening in five years, or sooner depending on your age and medical history. High-risk HPV was found. It does not mean you have cancer. It means you may be at higher risk for getting cervical cancer in the future. These tests may include:. If your results were positive, it's important to get regular or more frequent tests. It can take decades for abnormal cervical cells to turn into cancer. If found early, abnormal cells can be treated before they become cancerous.
It's much easier to prevent cervical cancer than to treat it once it develops. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. There is no treatment for HPV, but most infections clear up on their own.
You can take steps to reduce your risk of getting HPV. Having sex with only one partner and having safe sex using a condom can lower your risk. Vaccination is even more effective. The HPV vaccine works best when it's given to someone who has never been exposed to the virus. So it's recommended to give it to people before they start sexual activity.
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