The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), yet many misconceptions about the virus persist.

One common myth is that you can't have HPV if you don't have symptoms. Over 100 strains of HPV exist, but most don't exhibit any symptoms and can clear up without treatment. Most HPV infections resolve within 1-2 years as the immune system fights off and eliminates the virus. Afterward, the virus is gone and can't be transmitted to others.

However, in severe cases, HPV can remain in the body for years, even decades, before symptoms appear or a diagnosis is made. During this time, the virus continues to multiply within cells and can spread even without symptoms. This explains why HPV tests can still be positive even if the virus has been dormant for years. Anyone sexually active should be tested regularly, along with their partners, because HPV can spread unknowingly.

Another misconception is that HPV cannot be transmitted through female-to-female sexual contact. In reality, HPV can be transmitted through any sexual activity or contact with infected fluids. Vaginal, anal, or oral sex are primary transmission routes. The virus can also spread through skin-to-skin contact during sex, especially when one partner has HPV but no symptoms.

HPV spreads easily during sex without condoms or other protection, even if the virus is dormant. This is because viral material persists within the cells of the infected area. During sex, a partner can come into direct contact with these cells, allowing the virus to enter their body.

A third myth is that condoms completely prevent HPV. Although less common, HPV can still spread if condoms or other protective measures aren't used correctly. Condoms can prevent or reduce the exchange of bodily fluids, creating a barrier against some skin contact with secretions or sores. However, even when used correctly, they can't protect against all STIs, including HPV.

Condoms offer only partial protection because HPV can also be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, by rubbing or touching genitals. For example, condoms don't provide much protection against infections causing sores or lesions outside the genital area, like HPV warts.

Finally, the belief that HPV only causes cervical cancer is incorrect. Most sexually active people, regardless of gender, who haven't been vaccinated may contract at least one strain of HPV in their lifetime. HPV affects both men and women. Low-risk HPV strains can cause genital warts, which commonly appear in adolescence or young adulthood.

High-risk HPV strains can cause cellular changes, leading to cancers in areas like the cervix and vagina in women, and the penis, anus, and throat in men. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that in 2019, there were 620,000 new cancer cases in women and 70,000 in men caused by HPV.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently only approves screening tests for cervical cancer, including the HPV test and the Pap test. The HPV test checks cervical cells for high-risk HPV strains, while the Pap test checks for precancerous changes in cervical cells.

No FDA-approved screening tests exist for anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, or throat cancers. However, individuals at high risk for anal HPV can undergo an anal Pap test. Dentists can also check for signs of throat cancer during routine dental checkups.

Anh Ngoc (Healthline)