Updated June 2025
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that is most often spread sexually; there are over 200 different types. Most people will have HPV at some time in their lives.
Most HPV infections do not cause any symptoms, but infected people can still spread it to their sexual partners. Most infections clear on their own within 2 years. Persistent infection with cancer-causing HPV types can lead to abnormal changes to cells.
If a person is infected with the wart-causing types of HPV, warts may appear weeks or months later. Warts do not all look the same: some may be fleshy or cauliflower-like while others may be small hard spots or tags. Warts can appear in the genital, vaginal or anal area and rarely, in the mouth or throat. They can cause itching and sometimes bleeding. Warts will not turn into cancer.
About 40 types of HPV infect the genital area. HPV spreads by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activities. Sometimes, infection with low-risk types can cause anogenital warts while high-risk types can cause cancer of the cervix (neck of the uterus), throat, anus, vagina, vulva, or penis.
A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by examining the area of concern. The HPV test is available as part of cervical cancer screening to look for cancer-causing types of HPV.
During cervical cancer screening, a healthcare provider takes a sample of cells from the cervix. The test can detect HPV types that can sometimes cause cervical cancer, as well as any abnormal cell changes that need to be monitored closely. Most of the time, the body will clear the virus or recover from cell changes. Sometimes the cancer-causing virus can stay and cause more serious problems. These require a test called a colposcopy that uses a special magnifying microscope to “see” the cells of the cervix and upper vagina. Cell changes that do not get better on their own may need treatment. Once sexually active, anyone with cervix should have a cervical screening at age 25 and then every 5 years if results are normal. Those with weakened immune systems or abnormal results may need to test more frequently.
High-risk types of HPV can cause cervical cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer. Almost all cervical cancers are preventable by having regular screening tests and treating the abnormal cells when necessary. Persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV may lead to cancer of the throat, anus, vagina, vulva, or penis.
Anyone who is sexually active can become infected with HPV. Having multiple sex partners, as well as having a partner who has had multiple sex partners, increases your risk. People with weakened immune systems and people who smoke are less likely to clear their HPV infection.
If warts or pre-cancerous changes occur there are treatments available. The most common way to remove genital warts is with chemical preparations, freezing, laser treatment or surgery. Some treatments are applied by your healthcare provider while others are self-applied at home. Warts can come back until your body clears the infection naturally. Some people choose not to treat the warts and see if they disappear on their own. Pre-cancerous cells on the cervix can be treated with laser, freezing or surgical removal.
Condoms used consistently from beginning to end of sexual contact give some protection against HPV for skin that is covered. If warts are visible in the genital area of a new partner, avoid all genital skin-to-skin contact. However, most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms so vaccination is your best protection.
Gardasil-9® is the recommended vaccine in Canada. This vaccine is very effective (over 95%) in preventing infection from nine types of HPV: seven high-risk (cancer-causing) and two low-risk (wart-causing). The vaccine will not treat existing infections or protect against HPV types not included in the vaccine. This is why individuals with a cervix who have ever been sexually active need regular cervical screening tests regardless of their vaccine status. See the HPV Vaccine Fact Sheet for details on the vaccine schedule and eligibility.
The most common way to get HPV is during sexual activity with skin-to-skin contact. Most people do not know they have HPV or that they are passing it on to someone else. HPV may be passed through oral sex and through intimate contact with the genitals (hand/fingers to genitals). In very rare cases, HPV can be passed to an infant during pregnancy or delivery. It is not clear if HPV can be spread through contact with objects that have been in contact with the virus.
In most cases your current partner will already be infected with HPV at the time of your diagnosis. Most HPV-infected partners will not have and will not develop any signs or symptoms. It is only necessary for a partner to see a healthcare provider if they have suspicious bumps. Remember, you may still be able to pass on the virus after treatment for warts.
Call the Sexual Health Infoline Ontario at 416-392-2437 or 1-800-668-2437 or visit toronto.ca/health.
Safer sex: To reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI), use a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex.