HPV
HPV, human papilloma virus, is a virus that can be sexually transmitted. Both people with a penis and people with a vagina can carry HPV.
HPV typically has no symptoms, unless it is the strain that causes genital warts.
There are over 200 strains of HPV currently identified.
The Gardasil Vaccine
Gardasil is the series of vaccines that prevents you from contracting 9 of the strains of HPV most likely to cause cervical cancer. This vaccine is recommended for both men and women between the ages of 9 and 45.
Cancer Risk
HPV can cause cervical, throat, or rectal cancers.
Testing
Currently, testing for HPV is completed on people with a cervix during a pap smear. There is no routine screening recommended or available at this time for people with a penis.
Learn More About STI Testing
This article is part of Haven Health Education, where we explain sexually transmitted infections and the importance of routine STI testing so you can make informed decisions about your reproductive health.
HPV Education and Screening in Greensboro and Across North Carolina
If you have questions about HPV, the Gardasil vaccine, or cervical cancer screening, Haven Health provides patient education and reproductive care in Greensboro, North Carolina and by telehealth across the state.
Many patients want to understand how HPV is transmitted, how it is tested during a pap smear, and how the vaccine can reduce cancer risk. Haven Health helps you understand your options and stay up to date with recommended screenings.
Patients from Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Kernersville, and surrounding Guilford County communities visit Haven Health for compassionate reproductive care.
If you live anywhere in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Wilmington, or anywhere in NC, you can meet with a provider virtually to discuss HPV education and screening recommendations.
Haven Health provides patient-centered, evidence-based care both in person and online across North Carolina.