r/HPV

Men cannot get tested for high risk HPV and therefore they don't carry the stigma and guilt for it, while spreading it far and wide.

I'm seeing sooo many posts by straight women overwhelmed by shame and guilt for having HPV which was very likely given to the them by men (this is not to assign "guilt", it is just how transmission works).

Almost all straight women got HPV from a man who sleeps well at night because he is unaware he has it.

Even your future male partner, going by the statistics only, probably have encountered some HPV strain, statistically more likely HPV 16 since it's the most widespread strain.

Your guilt and shame as a straight woman is gendered and unfair - spreading HPV is not a gendered affair, we should all aim for vaccination coverage, more education, and check ups - whether it be gynecologists visits or dentists/ENTs.

I’m almost 26 been having warts for more than 2 years, there getting larger and larger, there all clustered, I have about 5 large clustered warts and I don’t know what to do, I hate electrocautery and the blood especially when there large like this. Please help me

Hi all,

I created our intro post to abnormal smears to address many of the initial questions and worries we get posted here all the time.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HPV/comments/1lx3g95/first_positive_andor_abnormal_smear_start_here/

It has saved me and the other mods from typing out the same answers, and I believe has helped many people understand what can be a confusing diagnosis.

I've had in mind for some time to create a similar post for gw. I've been putting it off partly because gw is a much more complicated topic, with much less research/concrete advice and more ambiguities.

​With that in mind:

What are the top 1-3 things you would have wanted to know when you first got diagnosed?

Please note, I won't write answers here - I'll include them in my post when I write it.

Any nonsense in the comments will be deleted - this is a post to help me gather info to create a helpful resource, not a place for you to grandstand.

I grew up homeschooled with super religious parents. (If you don't know the type, count your blessings and consider yourself very lucky.) My parents threw raging fits when my pediatrician suggested I get the HPV vaccines when I was 10 (approximately.) I'm now 28 and received my third and final HPV dose today. I thought I'd have to restart the whole cycle since I missed the third dose years ago, but my pharmacist reassured me that I don't need to and I'm now fully vaccinated. I don't want to post my exact sexual history on the public internet, but I've had very few sexual partners, and I'm going on my eighth year without sex (lol.)

My pap smears have all come back clean, and even though I haven't been sexually active in a long time, I don't think it's realistic to think I'm never going to have sex again. Therefore, I feel like the vaccines are still a smart choice for me to have made, and that on a rational level, it's not too late. However, I have been diagnosed with OCD several times and sometimes it manifests as health anxiety. I'm worried I have a high-risk strain that's lying dormant and will later come back, and that I should've gotten vaccinated before I ever had sex and that since I didn't I'm at high risk.

Heyyyyy!!! I wanted to come on here spread hope and light to anyone who has been in my shoes. Which is stressed, worried, and embarrassed from being diagnosed with HIGH RISK HPV. For reference I’m a 27yr old female and in 2024 I went for a annual Pap smear and was not expecting the results of an abnormal pap and HIGH RISK HPV I was devastated and basically in denial because I had no symptoms and thinking no, not me. So I slightly ignored it, I did some research but felt an ease that it can go away on its own also I’m not that big on pharmaceutical medication and didn’t want to get any kinda of procedure before I knew if my body could the virus. Moving forward 2026 I went to get a pap came back normal with no high risk hpv!!!! I’m filled with joy and relief! I will share what I did after my diagnosis in 2024 that maybe helped clear it.

One factor is possibly age but I also went on a 9 day detox smoothies, fresh juice like celery, watermelon and eating raw salad and steamed veggies! I take vimergy supplements like cat claw, olive leaf and lots of micro c to build up immunity and fight off free radicals and viruses. I dont drink heavy and worked out occasionally but I do think these are important.. movement and limiting alcohol consumption. Lastly, I stopped smoking in 2025, I’m a nursing student this isn’t medical advice just what I did.

I know what it feels like I’m still nervous because I’ve seen many stories of women getting hpv again I’m monogamous with a long time partner and I don’t wanna pass it back and forth so not sure what to do there besides wear a condom. I wish you ladies nothing but the best praying for health and longevity!<3 CLAIM IT

Are there others that do what warts clinic does?

Has anyone here gone to a location in Southern California where they had their GW removed? All without going to your primary doctor of course.

I am a man 23 years old and for nearly 4 years I’ve been plagued by warts. Numerous laser therapies and lotion and they keep coming back. Even cutting off alcohol and vaccinating myself I don’t see any improvement. I have been abstinent since 2024 and I don’t see myself dating or having sexual relationships with anybody in the near future. The constant fear (and Knowing) of warts returning just ruined dating for me because it was a problem for partners in the past. Because of that, one has to accept his fate and focus in other things in Life. That would be my Recommendation for anybody.

I'm waiting for my treatment appointment this month, I just realised that my work take a lot of physical work (private kitchen) and I don't think I can afford to take two weeks or more sick day.

does anyone have the same situation and how to recover safely with the job?

my treatment will be on Friday, I will have 3 days rest after the treatment and after that probably normal work again.

thanks in advance.

What can a high risk hpv infected man do? Women can get pap smears and keep it monitored, ppl with GW can SEE whats going on, but what abt hpv16 in men? Are they supposed to just move on hoping cancer never shows up??

Yes I’m a smoker , and I’m trying my hardest to quit so please don’t judge me. I’m 38/f/england now I feel like I’m going to get mouth cancer and possible cervical cancer. I’ve only just found happiness in my life , now all this is making me poorly with my thoughts.

I’m booked in for LLETZ my n the 24th but what about the mouth issues ?? 😭 I’m feeling really crappy.

Ever since I got the wart on my vulva, I feel so disfigured, almost like I don't deserve to live, and when I knew this HPV could manifest in cancer in the future, I honestly have been feeling quite suicidal, disappointed and super sad. I have been reading lots of stuff about how it is the main cause of oral and throat cancer also.

I really wanted to date and get married by the next year, but looking at how things are I know I will end up all alone in the future. This thing has been eating me up from inside and I can't focus on anything else. I feel like I am dying slowly, and there's literally nothing I can do about it.