HPV FACTS

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HPV FACTS 〰️

About 80% of sexually active people will get HPV at some point in their lives.

  • Most of the time, HPV doesn’t cause any symptoms and goes away all on its own

  • Some low risk types of HPV can cause genital warts. They are bothersome, but benign.

  • High-risk HPV types - such as 16 and 18 - can lead to cancers, including cervical, throat, and anal cancers.

The HPV vaccine is a powerful way to help prevent HPV infection in the first place, targeting the main types that lead to most cervical cancers and other HPV-related diseases.

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine HPV vaccination for preteens aged 11 to 12 years, though vaccination can be administered as early as age 9 and up to age 26 (and in some cases, up to age 45).

See your healthcare provider for regular HPV and/or Pap testing. Early detection can help treat precancerous changes in its early stages.

  • Using condoms reduces the risk of HPV transmission but doesn’t eliminate it entirely.

  • HPV can affect anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

  • There is no cure for HPV, but there is a lot that can be done to prevent and treat it.

Stay curious, stay safe, and keep spreading the facts!