What Is HPV? A Plain-English Guide to Human Papillomavirus, Its Types, Risks, and Prevention

Last updated: June 8, 2026

Quick Answer

HPV (human papillomavirus) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It spreads through skin-to-skin and sexual contact, and there are more than 200 types — low-risk types cause warts, while high-risk types can lead to cancer. Most infections cause no symptoms and clear on their own within about two years.

Key Takeaways

HPV stands for human papillomavirus, a large family of more than 200 related viruses that infect skin and mucous membranes.
Approximately 42 million Americans are currently infected, with roughly 13 million new infections occurring each year, according to the CDC.
Most HPV infections produce no symptoms and resolve without treatment within one to two years.
Low-risk HPV types (mainly types 6 and 11) cause genital warts. High-risk types (mainly types 16 and 18) can cause cervical, throat, anal, and other cancers.
A positive HPV result is not a cancer diagnosis. High-risk infection means closer monitoring is needed, not immediate alarm.
HPV can remain dormant for months or years, so a diagnosis cannot reliably pinpoint when or from whom infection occurred.
The HPV vaccine is safe, highly effective, and recommended for preteens, teens, and adults up to age 26 (and in some cases up to age 45).
There is no antiviral drug that clears HPV, but the immune system clears most infections on its own, and symptoms like warts are treatable.
Condoms and dental dams reduce transmission risk but do not eliminate it, because HPV spreads through skin-to-skin genital contact.
Regular cervical screening (Pap test and/or HPV test) is the most reliable way to catch cell changes before they become cancer.

What Is HPV? What the Name Actually Means

HPV stands for human papillomavirus, a family of more than 200 closely related viruses that infect the skin and the moist linings of the body (mucous membranes). The word “papilloma” refers to a wart-like growth, which is what some HPV types produce. Understanding what is HPV at its most basic level means recognizing that HPV is a virus, not a disease in itself — what matters is which type you have and whether your immune system clears it.

The virus, not the disease: HPV infects the cells of the outer layers of skin and mucous membranes. Once inside a cell, the virus uses the cell’s own machinery to replicate. In most cases the immune system detects and destroys the virus before it causes any noticeable problem. In a smaller number of cases, the virus persists, and in a smaller number still, persistent infection with a high-risk type can eventually cause abnormal cell changes that, if left undetected for years, may become cancer.

How common is HPV? The CDC estimates that approximately 42 million Americans are currently infected with HPV types that affect the genital area, with about 13 million new infections each year (CDC, 2021). Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies HPV as the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract. Most sexually active people will have at least one HPV infection at some point in their lives.

Key distinctions to hold in mind:

HPV is a virus, not a bacterium, so antibiotics do not treat it.
Having HPV is not the same as having an HPV-related cancer.
Most infections are temporary, not permanent.
“HPV” covers hundreds of types — the type matters enormously for what happens next.

How Do You Get HPV?

HPV spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact, most commonly during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You do not need to have penetrative intercourse to contract HPV — close genital skin contact is enough. This is one reason condoms, while helpful, do not fully prevent transmission.

Routes of transmission:

Vaginal sex — the most common route for genital HPV types.
Anal sex — associated with anal HPV infection and anal cancer risk.
Oral sex — can transmit HPV to the throat and mouth (oropharyngeal HPV).
Skin-to-skin genital contact — even without penetration, contact between genital skin areas can transmit the virus.
Rarely, non-sexual routes — a mother can pass certain HPV types to a newborn during delivery, which can cause a rare condition called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in the child.

What about condoms? Consistent condom use reduces the risk of HPV transmission, but because HPV can live on skin not covered by a condom, protection is partial rather than complete. The CDC notes that condoms, when used correctly, lower the risk of HPV and HPV-related diseases (CDC, 2021).

The dormancy issue — and why timing is unknowable: HPV can remain in the body without causing any detectable symptoms or triggering a positive test result for months or even years. This is called latency or dormancy. Because of this, a new HPV diagnosis cannot tell you when you were infected or from whom. A person who tests positive today may have been infected by a partner from years ago. This is a medically established fact that is worth stating plainly to anyone who feels shocked or confused by a diagnosis.

Is HPV an STD, and How Does It Compare to Herpes and Other STIs?

Yes, HPV is classified as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), also called a sexually transmitted disease (STD). However, HPV differs from many other STIs in several important ways.

Feature	HPV	Herpes (HSV)	Chlamydia	HIV
Virus or bacterium	Virus	Virus	Bacterium	Virus
Usually no symptoms	Yes (most types)	Often	Often	Early stage
Clears on its own	Yes (most cases)	No (stays lifelong)	With antibiotics	No
Vaccine available	Yes	No	No	No (as of 2026)
Curable with drugs	No (no antiviral)	Manageable, not cured	Yes	No (manageable)
Cancer risk	High-risk types only	Rare association	Indirect (PID)	Indirect (immune)

Key comparison points:

Unlike herpes, HPV does not remain in the body for life in most people — the immune system clears the majority of infections.
Unlike chlamydia, HPV cannot be cured with a course of antibiotics.
Unlike HIV, HPV does not attack the immune system itself.
Like herpes, HPV can be transmitted even when no symptoms are visible.

The STI label sometimes carries stigma that is disproportionate to the actual risk for most people. Because HPV is so common — affecting the majority of sexually active adults at some point — a diagnosis reflects exposure, not behavior that is unusual or reckless.

HPV Types: Low-Risk vs. High-Risk

There are more than 200 HPV types, but only about 40 infect the genital area. These are divided into two broad categories based on their cancer-causing potential: low-risk and high-risk.

Low-risk types do not cause cancer. They may cause genital warts or, in rare cases, warts in the throat (recurrent respiratory papillomatosis). The two most common low-risk types are:

HPV 6 — responsible for approximately 90% of genital wart cases.
HPV 11 — also responsible for most genital warts and for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

High-risk types can, with persistent infection over many years, cause abnormal cell changes that may progress to cancer. There are about 12 high-risk types recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The two most important are:

HPV 16 — the type most strongly linked to cervical cancer, as well as throat, anal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
HPV 18 — the second most common high-risk type; together, types 16 and 18 account for approximately 70% of cervical cancers worldwide (WHO, 2023).

Other notable high-risk types include 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.

What the numbers mean in practice:

A low-risk HPV result means you may develop warts but are not at elevated cancer risk from that type.
A high-risk HPV result means your immune system needs to clear the virus, and your clinician will likely recommend closer monitoring (such as a colposcopy or repeat testing).
A high-risk result is not a cancer diagnosis. It is a signal to watch carefully.

What Are the Symptoms of HPV in Women and Men?

Most HPV infections — in both women and men — produce no symptoms at all. The virus is often cleared by the immune system before any sign of infection appears. When symptoms do occur, they depend entirely on which type of HPV is present.

Genital warts (low-risk types):

Small, flesh-colored or grayish bumps in the genital or anal area.
May appear alone or in clusters that look like a cauliflower.
Usually painless, though they can itch or cause mild discomfort.
In women, warts can appear on the vulva, vagina, cervix, or around the anus.
In men, warts can appear on the penis, scrotum, or around the anus.
Warts can appear weeks to months after exposure, or not at all.

High-risk types — largely silent:

High-risk HPV types typically cause no visible symptoms. The cell changes they may eventually trigger (called dysplasia or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN) are also invisible without testing. This is why regular cervical screening is so important — it finds changes that you cannot feel or see.

Symptoms of HPV in women specifically:

Abnormal vaginal bleeding (such as bleeding between periods or after sex) can be a sign of advanced cervical cell changes, but this symptom appears late and is not caused by HPV itself — it is caused by the cell changes or cancer that can result from long-term untreated high-risk HPV.
Unusual vaginal discharge in advanced cases.
The vast majority of women with HPV have no symptoms whatsoever.

Common mistake: Assuming that because you have no symptoms, you do not have HPV. High-risk HPV is almost always asymptomatic. The only way to know your HPV status is through testing.

Is HPV Dangerous? HPV and Cancer Risk

For most people, HPV is not dangerous — the immune system clears it, and no lasting harm occurs. However, persistent infection with a high-risk type is the primary cause of cervical cancer worldwide, and it is also linked to cancers of the throat, anus, penis, vagina, and vulva. The key word is “persistent”: a single positive test is not a cancer diagnosis.

The cancer connection, clearly stated:

The WHO identifies high-risk HPV as the cause of virtually all cervical cancers (WHO, 2023).
Cervical cancer develops slowly — typically over 10 to 20 years of persistent high-risk HPV infection without detection or treatment.
HPV-related throat cancer (oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma) has been increasing, particularly in men, and HPV 16 is the dominant type involved (Gillison et al., 2012, PMID: 22282321).
HPV causes approximately 5% of all cancers worldwide, according to the WHO.

Which cancers are linked to HPV?

Cancer type	HPV association
Cervical	Nearly 100% HPV-caused
Oropharyngeal (throat)	~70% HPV-caused
Anal	~90% HPV-caused
Vulvar	~40% HPV-caused
Vaginal	~65% HPV-caused
Penile	~50% HPV-caused

The reassuring reality: The progression from HPV infection to cancer is neither inevitable nor fast. Regular screening catches abnormal cell changes at a stage when they are easily treated. A high-risk HPV positive result, combined with normal cell findings on a Pap test, typically leads to repeat testing in one to three years — not immediate treatment.

A high-risk HPV diagnosis is a reason for monitoring, not panic. Most high-risk infections clear on their own. Those that persist are detectable and treatable before they become cancer.

HPV Testing and Cervical Screening

HPV testing looks for the presence of high-risk HPV DNA in cervical cells. A Pap test (Pap smear) looks for abnormal cell changes in those same cells. The two tests serve different purposes and are often done together as a “co-test.”

How do you get tested for HPV?

A clinician collects a small sample of cells from the cervix using a soft brush or swab during a pelvic exam.
The sample is sent to a lab that checks for high-risk HPV DNA (HPV test) and/or examines the cells under a microscope for abnormalities (Pap test).
HPV tests are currently approved for use in people with a cervix. There is no FDA-approved HPV test for penile, anal, or throat tissue in routine clinical settings as of 2026, though research is ongoing.
Self-collection HPV tests are available in some countries and are being studied for broader use.

Understanding your results:

HPV negative, Pap normal: Low risk. Routine screening continues on schedule (typically every 3–5 years depending on age and guidelines).
HPV positive, Pap normal: The virus is present but no cell changes yet. Follow-up testing in 1–3 years is typical.
HPV positive, Pap abnormal: Closer evaluation, usually a colposcopy (a magnified examination of the cervix), is recommended.
Pap abnormal, HPV not tested: Depends on the type of abnormality; your clinician will advise.

How much does HPV testing cost?

Cost varies by country, insurance status, and clinical setting. In the United States, an HPV test as part of routine cervical screening is generally covered by insurance under the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care provisions. Without insurance, an HPV test typically costs between $30 and $100 at a clinic, though prices vary. Planned Parenthood and community health centers often offer sliding-scale fees. In the UK, cervical screening (which includes HPV testing) is free through the NHS for eligible individuals.

Screening guidelines (U.S., as of 2026):

Ages 21–29: Pap test alone every 3 years.
Ages 30–65: Pap test plus HPV co-test every 5 years (preferred), or Pap alone every 3 years, or HPV test alone every 5 years.
Over 65: Screening may stop if prior results have been consistently normal; discuss with your clinician.
These are general guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS, 2020). Individual circumstances may vary.

HPV Treatment: What Can and Cannot Be Done

There is no antiviral medication that eliminates HPV from the body. Treatment focuses on managing the symptoms and cell changes that HPV can cause, not the virus itself. The good news is that most infections clear without any intervention.

What can be treated:

Genital warts can be removed or reduced through topical prescription creams (such as imiquimod or podophyllin), cryotherapy (freezing), laser treatment, or minor surgical procedures. Wart treatment does not eliminate the underlying virus, and warts can recur.
Cervical cell changes (CIN) detected through screening can be treated with procedures such as LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure) or cryotherapy, which remove or destroy the abnormal tissue before it can progress to cancer.
HPV-related cancers are treated through standard oncology approaches — surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination — depending on the cancer type and stage.

What cannot be treated:

The HPV virus itself cannot be targeted with a drug. No pill, supplement, or topical product has been proven to clear HPV faster.
Claims about herbal remedies, dietary supplements, or “immune boosters” that cure HPV are not supported by clinical evidence. Avoid products making these claims.

The body’s own response: The immune system is the primary mechanism for clearing HPV. Maintaining overall health — not smoking, eating well, managing stress, and avoiding immunosuppression — supports immune function, though no specific behavior has been proven to accelerate HPV clearance in clinical trials.

The HPV Vaccine: Who Should Get It, Pros and Cons

The HPV vaccine prevents infection with the HPV types most likely to cause cancer and genital warts. It does not treat an existing infection. Vaccination before exposure to HPV is most effective, which is why it is recommended for preteens, but it also provides benefit for older adolescents and adults who have not been previously exposed to all vaccine-covered types.

Who should get the HPV vaccine?

Preteens (ages 11–12): The CDC recommends vaccination at this age, when the immune response is strongest and before sexual activity typically begins. Two doses are given 6–12 months apart.
Teens and young adults (ages 13–26): If not previously vaccinated, catch-up vaccination is recommended. Three doses are required for those who start the series at age 15 or older.
Adults ages 27–45: The FDA has approved the Gardasil 9 vaccine for this age group. The CDC recommends a shared clinical decision — meaning you discuss with your doctor whether vaccination is likely to benefit you based on your history and risk factors.
People with certain immune conditions may need additional doses; a clinician can advise.

Which vaccine is available?

As of 2026, Gardasil 9 (manufactured by Merck) is the HPV vaccine available in the United States. It protects against nine HPV types: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 — covering the types responsible for the majority of HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

HPV vaccine pros and cons:

Pros	Cons
Highly effective at preventing HPV 16 and 18 infection (the main cancer-causing types)	Does not treat existing HPV infection
Reduces risk of cervical, throat, anal, and other HPV-related cancers	Does not protect against all HPV types
Also prevents genital warts (types 6 and 11)	Requires 2–3 doses over several months
Safe: monitored by CDC, FDA, WHO, and EMA with a strong safety record	Some people experience mild side effects (arm soreness, brief dizziness)
Vaccinated individuals still need cervical screening	Cost without insurance can be significant
Herd immunity benefit when uptake is high	Less effective if given after exposure to that type

Safety record: The HPV vaccine has been administered to hundreds of millions of people worldwide since 2006. Major health authorities including the WHO, CDC, FDA, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) consistently affirm its safety and effectiveness. Serious adverse events are rare and are monitored through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) in the U.S.

HPV in Men and HPV in Women

HPV affects people of all genders. While cervical screening programs have historically focused on people with a cervix, HPV causes significant disease in men as well.

HPV in women:

Cervical cancer is the most well-known HPV-related cancer in women, but HPV also causes vaginal and vulvar cancers.
Regular cervical screening is the primary tool for early detection of HPV-related cell changes.
Women with a weakened immune system (such as those living with HIV) are at higher risk of persistent HPV and should follow more frequent screening schedules.

Can men get HPV too?

Yes. Men can and do get HPV, and they can develop HPV-related diseases. There is no routine HPV screening test approved for men in most countries as of 2026, which means most men are unaware of their HPV status.

HPV-related conditions in men:

Genital warts on the penis, scrotum, or around the anus.
Anal cancer (particularly in men who have sex with men and in those living with HIV).
Penile cancer (less common).
Oropharyngeal (throat) cancer — the incidence of HPV-positive throat cancer is rising in men and now exceeds the incidence of cervical cancer in some high-income countries (Chaturvedi et al., 2011, PMID: 21969503).

Men who have sex with men and men living with HIV are at higher risk for anal HPV-related disease. Anal Pap testing is recommended for these groups in many clinical guidelines.

Oral and Throat HPV

Oral HPV infection is common and usually causes no symptoms. HPV can infect the mouth and throat through oral sex or, less commonly, through kissing. Most oral HPV infections clear on their own, just as genital infections do.

What you need to know about throat HPV:

HPV 16 is the type most strongly linked to oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (cancer of the back of the throat, base of the tongue, and tonsils).
Symptoms of HPV-related throat cancer, when they do appear, can include a persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, a lump in the neck, or unexplained ear pain — but these symptoms are non-specific and usually have other causes.
There is no approved routine screening test for oral or throat HPV in the general population as of 2026.
The HPV vaccine reduces the risk of oral HPV infection with covered types, though research on this specific benefit is ongoing.

HPV and Relationships: What a Diagnosis Does and Does Not Mean

A positive HPV test does not tell you when you were infected or who infected you. This is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — facts about HPV.

Because HPV can remain dormant for months or years without triggering symptoms or a positive test, a new diagnosis in a long-term relationship does not mean that either partner has been unfaithful. The virus may have been present, undetected, for a very long time.

What to tell a partner:

HPV is so common that most sexually active people have been exposed. A diagnosis is not unusual.
Partners in a sexual relationship have likely already been exposed to the same HPV type(s).
There is no test that can determine who “brought” HPV into a relationship.
Informing current partners allows them to consider vaccination (if eligible) and appropriate screening.

Emotional impact: A diagnosis can feel alarming or stigmatizing, even though the medical reality is often reassuring. Speaking with a clinician or a counselor familiar with sexual health can help put the diagnosis in perspective.

Does HPV Go Away on Its Own, and How Do You Prevent Getting HPV?

Most HPV infections do clear on their own. The CDC states that approximately 90% of HPV infections are cleared by the body within about two years (CDC, 2021). The immune system is responsible for this clearance, and in most cases it does the job without any treatment.

Clearance vs. latency: “Cleared” means the virus is no longer detectable at levels that standard tests can find. Whether the virus is completely eliminated from the body or simply suppressed below detectable levels is a question that researchers continue to study. For practical purposes, a negative HPV test after a prior positive result is a good sign and means cancer risk has returned to baseline.

Factors that may affect clearance:

A healthy immune system clears HPV more reliably.
Smoking is associated with impaired clearance and higher risk of persistent HPV (Giuliano et al., 2002, PMID: 12172183).
Immunosuppression (from HIV, organ transplant medications, or other causes) increases the risk of persistent infection.

What happens if HPV is left untreated?

For most people, nothing happens — the immune system clears it. For a minority with persistent high-risk infection, untreated HPV can lead to cervical cell changes (CIN), which, if also left untreated over many years, can progress to cervical cancer. This progression is slow, which is why regular screening is so effective at preventing cancer even after HPV is detected.

How to prevent getting HPV:

Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure. Getting vaccinated before first sexual contact provides the highest level of protection, but vaccination still offers benefit to those who have already been sexually active.
Consistent condom use reduces (but does not eliminate) transmission risk.
Dental dams during oral sex reduce oral HPV transmission risk.
Limiting the number of sexual partners reduces exposure risk, though HPV can be transmitted even within long-term monogamous relationships if one partner was previously infected.
Regular screening does not prevent HPV infection but catches cell changes early, preventing cancer.
Not smoking supports immune clearance of the virus.

There is no way to guarantee complete prevention of HPV short of lifelong abstinence, which is not a realistic expectation for most people. The combination of vaccination and regular screening is the most practical and evidence-based approach.

FAQ

What is HPV?

HPV stands for human papillomavirus, a family of more than 200 viruses that infect skin and mucous membranes. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection, spread through skin-to-skin and sexual contact. Most infections cause no symptoms and clear on their own within about two years.

How do you get HPV?

HPV spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and through close genital contact even without penetration. You do not need visible symptoms to transmit or acquire HPV. Condoms reduce but do not eliminate the risk because HPV can infect skin not covered by a condom.

Is HPV an STD?

Yes, HPV is classified as a sexually transmitted infection (STD/STI). However, it differs from many other STIs in that most infections clear on their own, a vaccine is available, and a diagnosis does not indicate unusual behavior — most sexually active adults will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime.

Is HPV dangerous?

For most people, HPV is not dangerous and clears without causing harm. However, persistent infection with a high-risk type (most commonly HPV 16 or 18) can, over many years, lead to cervical, throat, anal, or other cancers. Regular screening detects cell changes long before they become cancer, making HPV-related cancer largely preventable.

Does HPV go away on its own?

Yes, approximately 90% of HPV infections clear on their own within about two years, according to the CDC. The immune system handles most infections without any treatment. Persistent high-risk infections that do not clear are the ones that require monitoring and, if cell changes develop, treatment.

Can HPV be cured?

There is no antiviral drug that cures HPV. The immune system clears most infections naturally. The symptoms HPV causes — such as genital warts and cervical cell changes — can be treated. Vaccination prevents infection with the most dangerous types but does not treat an existing infection.

Can men get HPV?

Yes, men can get HPV and can develop HPV-related conditions including genital warts, anal cancer, penile cancer, and oropharyngeal (throat) cancer. There is no routine approved HPV screening test for men in most countries, so most men do not know their HPV status. The HPV vaccine is recommended for males as well as females.

How much does HPV testing cost?

In the U.S., HPV testing as part of routine cervical screening is generally covered by insurance under preventive care rules. Without insurance, an HPV test typically costs $30 to $100 at a clinic, with lower-cost options at community health centers. In the UK, cervical screening including HPV testing is free through the NHS for eligible individuals.

Conclusion

Understanding what is HPV is the first step toward making informed decisions about your health. HPV is extremely common, usually harmless, and most often clears on its own — but persistent high-risk infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer and is linked to several other cancers. These are two truths that exist at the same time, and neither cancels out the other.

Actionable next steps:

If you have not been vaccinated: Ask your clinician whether the HPV vaccine is appropriate for you, regardless of your age or prior sexual history.
If you are due for cervical screening: Schedule it. Screening is the most reliable tool for catching cell changes before they become cancer.
If you have received a positive HPV result: Do not panic. Follow your clinician’s recommended follow-up schedule. Most high-risk infections clear on their own, and those that persist are detectable and treatable.
If you have questions about a partner’s diagnosis: Speak with a sexual health clinician. A diagnosis does not reveal when or from whom infection occurred.
If you smoke: Quitting supports immune function and is associated with better HPV clearance outcomes.
If you have symptoms such as unusual bumps, growths, or unexplained bleeding: See a clinician. Do not self-diagnose.

HPV is manageable. With vaccination, regular screening, and an honest conversation with your healthcare provider, the risks it poses are largely preventable.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human Papillomavirus (HPV). 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html
World Health Organization (WHO). Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-and-cervical-cancer
National Cancer Institute (NCI). HPV and Cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-and-cancer
American Cancer Society (ACS). The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer. 2020. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html
NHS. Human papillomavirus (HPV). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/human-papillomavirus-hpv/
Gillison ML, et al. Prevalence of oral HPV infection in the United States, 2009–2010. JAMA. 2012;307(7):693–703. PMID: 22282321. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.101
Chaturvedi AK, et al. Human papillomavirus and rising oropharyngeal cancer incidence in the United States. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2011;29(32):4294–4301. PMID: 21969503. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2011.36.4596
Giuliano AR, et al. Cigarette smoking and the natural history of HPV infection in middle-aged women. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2002;11(9):849–855. PMID: 12172183.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2016/12/cervical-cancer-screening-and-prevention

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health.

Author: Dr. Laura Bennett, OB/GYN — Board-Certified Gynecologist, Women’s Integrative Health Center (Private Practice) | Sources: WHO, CDC, ACOG, NHS, NCI, peer-reviewed literature

Last updated: June 8, 2026