How long hpv last

Lasting HPV infection can cause genital warts or certain kinds of cancer. It is not known why some people develop health problems from HPV and others do not. Most men who get HPV never develop symptoms and the infection usually goes away completely by itself. However, if HPV does not go away, it can cause genital warts or certain kinds of cancer. See your healthcare provider if you have questions about anything new or unusual such as warts, or unusual growths, lumps, or sores on your penis, scrotum, anus, mouth, or throat.

Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area around the penis or the anus. These warts might be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower.

The warts may go away, or stay the same, or grow in size or number. Usually, a healthcare provider can diagnose genital warts simply by looking at them. Genital warts can come back, even after treatment. The types of HPV that cause warts do not cause cancer. These include cervical cancer in women, penile cancer in men, and anal cancer in both women and men.

HPV can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils called oropharyngeal cancer. All of these cancers are caused by HPV infections that did not go away. Cancer develops very slowly and may not be diagnosed until years, or even decades, after a person first gets infected with HPV.

Currently, there is no way to know who will have only a temporary HPV infection, and who will develop cancer after getting HPV. However, some healthcare providers do offer anal Pap tests to men who may be at increased risk for anal cancer, including men with HIV or men who receive anal sex.

If you have symptoms and are concerned about cancer, please see a healthcare provider. There's no treatment for 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.

Read more about treating genital warts and treating abnormal cell changes in the cervix. Page last reviewed: 19 March Next review due: 19 March Human papillomavirus HPV. HPV affects the skin. There are more than different types. You do not need to have penetrative sex. You can get HPV from: any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area vaginal, anal or oral sex sharing sex toys HPV has no symptoms, so you may not know if you have it.

Women may also discover that they have HPV if abnormalities in the cervix are detected by a Pap smear or biopsy. Your doctor may be able to remove any warts that appear. If precancerous cells are present, the affected tissue can be removed to reduce your risk of developing cancer. HPV-related cancers such as throat or cervical cancer, are more treatable when diagnosed early. Men and women are also eligible to receive the HPV vaccination until the age of Practicing safe sex can prevent the spread of HPV.

You should always use a barrier method, such as a male condom or a dental dam , during sexual activity. The U. It also protects against types 31, 33, 45, 52, and The Gardasil 4 vaccine, also known as the Gardasil vaccine , was available in the United States until It protects against the four most common types. A third vaccine, Cervarix, left U. It protects against types 16 and Doctors can give the vaccine as a series of three shots over six months.

Children who begin the vaccination series before they turn 15 will receive just two shots instead over the course of 6 to 12 months. They can determine whether this is the best option for you. It often has few or no symptoms, which is why getting….

Most sexually active men and women will have HPV at some point in their lives. About 40 types of HPV are sexually transmitted.