MYTHS ABOUT HPV

MYTH: HPV, HIV and Herpes are the same thing

FACT: HPV, HIV and herpes are different viruses that have different health consequences. The one
thing they have in common is that they are spread from person to person through sexual contact
they are all sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
MYTH: HPV only affects girls and young women
FACT: 75% of sexually active individuals will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime. Both men
and women can be infected with HPV. Both can have genital warts, and both can develop cancer from
HPV infection, although only women can develop cervical cancer.
MYTH: If I use a condom, I cant get HPV or any other STI
FACT: Condoms can protect against most STIs including HIV/AIDS, but do not provide complete
protection against HPV. The virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact with infected areas of the
skin not covered by the condom (such as the scrotum, anus, or vulva).
HPV is actually very difficult to prevent unless you decide to abstain from sex for life or you have one
sexual partner who has never had another partner before. Anyone who has been sexually active may
have HPV. Most sexually active people will have the virus at some point in their life.
If you choose not to abstain from sex, vaccination provides highly effective protection against the 4
types of the HPV virus that cause 90% of genital warts and 70% of cervical cancers.
MYTH: If I only touch my partner and have oral sex, I cannot get HPV
FACT: The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact with the penis, scrotum, vagina, vulva, or anus
of a person who has the HPV infection. Kissing or touching that persons sex organs with your mouth
(oral sex) can spread HPV. It is not necessary to have intercourse to get HPV.
MYTH: You can tell if your partner has HPV
FACT: You cant physically see whether a person has an HPV infection unless the person has genital
warts. Many people with HPV dont have any visible signs but they can still spread the virus.
MYTH: HPV will not affect me because I only have one partner. It only affects people who sleep
around
FACT: Any person who has sexual contact with another person can get HPV. You may be at risk even
if you have only one partner because your partner may have had other partners in the past.
You can have sex with an infected person without knowing the person has the virus. You can spread
the virus without knowing you are infected because you may not have any visible symptoms. Each
partner in a sexual relationship may carry the infection for many years without knowing it.
MYTH: Genital warts can develop into cancer
FACT: Genital warts are caused by low-risk types of HPV. These types of the virus do not usually

cause cancer. Genital warts are not easy to get rid of, but they dont usually have long-term effects on
your physical health.
MYTH: If I get HPV, it means Ill get cancer
FACT: The majority of people will get HPV at least once in their lifetime, but only a small percentage of
infections will cause cancer. Like other infections, HPV may go away without any treatment or
problemsbut certain low-risk types (e.g., types 6 and 11) may cause warts in the genital area, and at
least 15 high-risk types of HPV (e.g., types 16 and 18) may cause cancer. While there are treatments
for the warts and cell changes caused by the virus, there is no medicine that can cure the virus once
you are infected.
MYTH: The Pap test tells you whether you have HPV or other STIs
FACT: The Pap test detects cell changes in the cervix (located at the end of the vagina). It doesnt tell
you if you have an STI, including HPV. Your health-care professional can test for sexually transmitted
infections as part of a pelvic exam or separately, but you need to ask for it.
MYTH: HPV vaccination can protect me from HPV and other STIs
FACT: There are more than 100 different types of HPV. At least 40 of these types are spread through
sexual contact and can infect the genital area. Four types of HPV cause the majority of genital warts
(types 6 and 11) and most cases of cervical cancer (types 16 and 18). Two vaccines are available; one
that protects against types 16 and 18 and the other against all four types.
The vaccines do not protect against the other types of HPV or any other STI.
MYTH: I dont need the HPV vaccine because I am not having sex
FACT: If you get the vaccine now, it can help protect you in the future. In fact, the vaccine works best if
you get it before youre exposed to HPVbefore you become sexually active. When you do become
sexually active, you will already be protected from the types of HPV covered by the vaccine. Studies
have shown that, for girls, vaccination is most effective when given between the ages of 9 and 13.
MYTH: After being vaccinated, you no longer need Pap tests
FACT: HPV vaccination does not replace the need for regular Pap tests. The Pap test does not
diagnose an HPV infection. It is used to detect cell changes in a womans cervix before they develop
into cancer. Regular Pap tests are a key part of a healthy womans life, whether or not she has had the
HPV vaccination. The vaccine does not protect you from all types of HPV, so there is still a risk of
developing cervical cancer if you are infected with one of these other types.