Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Treatment

Is there a treatment for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) or related problems?

There is no treatment for the virus itself, but there are treatments for the problems that HPV can cause:

Genital warts

Visible genital warts can be removed by the patient with medications. They can also be treated by a health care provider. Some people choose not to treat warts, but to see if they disappear on their own. No one treatment is better than another. See "Genital Warts Treatment"

Abnormal cervical cells

Abnormal cervical cells (found on a Pap test) often become normal over time, but they can sometimes turn into cancer. If they remain abnormal, these cells can usually be treated to prevent cervical cancer from developing. This may depend on the severity of the cell changes, the woman’s age and past medical history, and other test results. It is critical to follow up with testing and treatment, as recommended by a doctor.

Cancer

Cervical cancer is most treatable when it is diagnosed and treated early. Problems found can usually be treated, depending on their severity and on the woman’s age, past medical history, and other test results. Most women who get routine cervical cancer screening and follow up as told by their provider can find problems before cancer even develops. Prevention is always better than treatment. 

Other HPV-related cancers are also more treatable when diagnosed and treated early.

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP), a rare condition in which warts grow in the throat, can be treated with surgery or medicines. It can sometimes take many treatments or surgeries over a period of years.

Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Related Topics

• Human Papillomavirus

• Human Papillomavirus Vaccines: Questions and Answers

• Human Papilloma Virus Signs and Symptoms

• Human Papillomavirus Screening

• Cervical Cancer Screening Tests

• What Does My Pap Test Result Mean?

• What Does My HPV Test Result Mean?

• HPV Test FDA's Approval

• Human Papillomavirus Treatment

• Human Papillomavirus Prevention

• Human Papillomavirus and Men
  

• HPV and Men

• Human Papillomavirus Infection Treatment

• Human Papillomavirus and Genital Warts

  • Causes

  • Transmission and Symptoms

  • Diagnosis and Treatment

  • Prevention

  • Complications

   

• Human Papillomavirus Associated Cancers
  United States, 2004–2008

• Preventing Cervical Cancer Worldwide (PDF document)

 

Vaccine

• Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

• FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

• Reports of Health Concerns Following HPV Vaccination

• Human Papillomavirus Fainting (Syncope) After Vaccination

• Human Papillomavirus Frequently Asked Questions on Syncope After Vaccination