All sexually active individuals can contract HPV at some point in their lives. It is a medium-term infection, so you can have the virus and not know it.
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HPV and Relationships
A person can have HPV for many years without it causing health problems. When the virus is detected in the body, it’s impossible to know how long the person has had it.
Likewise, it can’t be determined who infected whom in a couple, whether your partner transmitted it to you or vice versa, or how the infection occurred. Importantly, having HPV does NOT imply that you or your partner are having sex with other people.
It’s important to maintain a dialogue about this topic and it’s recommended that both of you talk to a professional.
In this way, you will have certainty about what you can and cannot do. Additionally, the doctor will also inform you of the best way to take care of each other.
How is HPV transmitted?
The most common transmission is through sexual contact. Therefore, the factors that present the highest risk of infection are:
- Sexual intercourse, vaginal or anal. It can also be transmitted through oral sex.
- Having multiple sexual partners.
- Starting to have sex at an early age.
Furthermore, it’s noted that some people are more likely to contract the virus than others. Certain factors can negatively influence this, such as:
- A weak immune system.
- Smoking.
- Or alcohol.
How can I know if I have HPV?
In the early stages of infection, the virus may be latent in your body, but show no symptoms. In this case, the only way to detect it is through molecular biology tests.
This type of test is called cytology or a Pap smear and is performed only on women. DNA is extracted from cellular samples taken from the cervix.
At present, there are no tests to detect HPV in men. Particularly, in these cases, HPV often goes away on its own, and sometimes it doesn’t cause health consequences.
It’s recommended that if you self-examine and detect any abnormalities in the penis, anus, or testicles, consult your doctor promptly.
These abnormalities can vary. If you find blisters, warts, white spots, or ulcers, don’t hesitate to see a professional.
What are the health consequences?
There are more than 150 variations of the virus, with warts being the most common consequence caused by the virus. However, some types of HPV can cause different types of cancer.
The most common is cervical cancer in women. But it can also cause anal cancer, penile cancer, or cancer in the oropharyngeal cavity. However, these latter health complications are rare.
These were some tips to help you know how to deal with HPV. However, there is much more you need to do if you really want to get rid of HPV and warts forever.
What you need to do is GET RID OF THE ROOT of the problem.
For that reason, I recommend you to look into Dr. Kirkland's story and how he was able to cure HPV and get rid of warts for good.
I wish you great success in your recovery!
Sources:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hpv-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20351596
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7579832/
- https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/hpv
Medically reviewed by Dr. John Wellington. Dr. John Wellington is a board-certified physician specializing in urology. With over 15 years of experience, he is passionate about sharing his knowledge through a popular health blog. Dr. Wellington holds an MD from Ivy League University and is a member of prestigious medical associations.
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