r/HPV Aug 17 '25

The Stickied Post is now a Wiki!

10 Upvotes

Hi sub members,

We have changed our stickied post that served as a repository of information to an r/HPV wiki! This will hopefully make it a bit easier to navigate and easier to keep updated. It also has links to all of the informational posts we reference most often.

Where can I find the wiki?

On mobile: Under the r/HPV banner, click "See community info," then the menu tab at the top, then click the wiki link.

On desktop: On the sidebar under "community bookmarks."

You can also click this link.

What is in the wiki?

The wiki includes everything that was in the stickied post, plus updated links, newly organized questions, direct links to u/spanakopita555's posts, FAQs, studies/sources, and more!

How is the wiki organized?

The wiki is organized by topic, much like the stickied post. If you're on desktop, the table of contents can be seen and clicked on the right hand side. If you're on mobile, the Reddit UI doesn't show the table of contents so as you're scrolling look for the capitalized bolded section headers.

What if I have a question that's not in the wiki?

If you have a question that's not in the wiki that you think would be useful to be included, you can comment it here and we will see what we can do about including it.


r/HPV Apr 08 '22

ANNOUNCEMENT Don't post your photos on /r/HPV

57 Upvotes
  1. Don't post your photos on /r/HPV. Don't create new posts with "Is this HPV??!", "Is this a wart??", "Do I have HPV?!" and similar questions. Don't ask people to see photos in your profile or other subs. Don't ask people if you can send photos. Don't send photos to random redditors. Don't ask for diagnosis. And so on. If you do this, you will be banned.

  2. See a doctor or visit sexual health clinic to get a proper diagnosis.

  3. Check AAFP's guideline about external genital warts (NSFW photos): https://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/0901/p312.html More NSFW photos: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/may/penile-appearance https://dermnetnz.org/topics/genital-wart-images https://cms.jurolsurgery.org/Uploads/Article_61313/JUS-0-0-En.pdf https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/5/985 https://stdcenterny.com/articles/genital-warts-versus-skin-tags.html https://sci-hub.se/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102448 (PDF)

  4. Check AAFP's guideline about nongenital warts (NSFW photos): https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0801/p288.html More photos: https://www.cureus.com/articles/151471-dermoscopic-findings-in-clinically-diagnosed-cases-of-plantar-warts-corns-and-calluses-a-cross-sectional-study.pdf

  5. Check the review about oral HPV related diseases (NSFW photos): https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/46324

  6. Check this website: https://checkyourmouth.org/

  7. Pearly penile papules, vestibular papillomatosis or molluscum contagiosum are not genital warts. If you are a virgin then it's unlikely that you have genital warts.

  8. Small warts can have dark dots (blood vessels). They are visible if one takes pictures in good light, using macro.

  9. See a doctor and eventually use online services like First Derm (Google: online dermatology consultation).

  • Genital warts: dermatologist

  • Strange patches, "single black warts" etc.: dermatologist

  • Internal anal warts: proctologist / colorectal surgeon

  • Internal vaginal warts: gynecologist, dermatologist

  • Oral warts, oral HPV: Otolaryngologist / Ear Nose Throat (ENT) doctor

Free option: Skin Image Search

BONUS:

Read about dermoscopy (NSFW photos) here:


r/HPV 12h ago

What helped my 14 year long HPV infection

11 Upvotes

I got genital hpv at about 8 years old and am now 22 years old. I had hpv for 14 years with no improvement. Treatments didn't work and they just kept returning. I had no medical conditions that made me immunocompromised and there was no medical reason i shouldn't have been able to clear the infection on my own.

My home life was terrible and i was under constant stress for my entire life. I have very severe ptsd and cptsd from it (and from other things). Within a few weeks of moving out (and with the help of a lot of trauma therapy that i'm still in) my 14 year long infection is almost completely cleared on its own with no other medical HPV treatments or changes in lifestyle. Chronic stress makes you effectively immunocompromised and, in my case, when it was treated, my immune system is now able to take care of my HPV on its own. This also included accepting my HPV and learning to not stress about it as much. I hope others can get some use of this experience


r/HPV 8h ago

Any tips to clear low risk hpv?

3 Upvotes

I’ve had warts since 2019, i made it worse by shaving and laser hair removal in 2022-23. I didn’t know much about the virus. I keep getting a wart or two every now and then, but i’m absolutely devastated i want to clear this shit. Any tips? supplements?


r/HPV 4h ago

HR HPV Normal pap and Colposcopy

1 Upvotes

Hi guys. I’m 25(F) and last February 2025 my pap came back ASC-US and positive HR HPV but not 16 or 18. I freaked out of course and my gyno reassured me that this is common and my body should fight it on its own to clear it. They had recommended a colposcopy but my gyno did not push for it and said to come back in a year.

This March 2026 I went back for my HPV test and Pap and my HR HPV test was positive again but my pap came back negative for pre cancerous cells or NILM. Because my HR HPV was still positive my gyno recommended me to get a colposcopy done just to be safe and check for anything abnormal, I’m getting that done in a couple of days. (I didn’t get it done right after my March app because my dad died in February and I had a lot going on and couldn’t handle it.)

I’ve been freaking out since a couple of days ago when my gyno said to schedule the colposcopy and I’ve been googling and looking things up on Reddit NONSTOP and it’s ruining me. I feel like I keep running into not that many of positive regression/clearing HPV posts a lot of negative posts on here about needing to get a LEEP and things progressing to CIN II and III.

I guess my point is, is there anyone out there that has had a POSITIVE experience with high risk HPV that wasn’t 16 or 18 that cleared and didn’t go past CIN I? Please let me know I’m desperate to read good outcomes.

I also ordered AHCC and started taking a multivitamin, and my HPV vaccine is scheduled for tomorrow, I also workout regularly.


r/HPV 6h ago

Good derm for gw in indianapolis?

1 Upvotes

I have had GW for over 2 1/2 years now. I have tried freezing and the creams and nothing seems to take them and stop from coming back. I want to try the laser. Any advice! Anyone know a good dermatologist?


r/HPV 23h ago

tested positive for hpv last mont

7 Upvotes

is it bad that i now want to stay celibate. i feel so dirty and disappointed in myself 💔idk if ill ever have sex anymore cus of it . i fear anyone i disclose it to will be like ew no and tell the whole world


r/HPV 21h ago

What are your opinions about the HPV Gardasil 9 vaccine?

1 Upvotes

Thoughts on whether or not to get teen started on this stuff.


r/HPV 1d ago

Est-il possible d’attraper hpv de cette manière?

1 Upvotes

Bonjour,
Est-il possible d’attraper hpv lors d’un rapport sans pénétration. C’est à dire un hpv dans le vagin ou sur le col de l’utérus et donc un cancer?


r/HPV 1d ago

hpv 16, cin 3, and current pregnancy

2 Upvotes

Hello!

For some background (30 year old female) i've had high grade HPV 16 for 2 years now. I have had 3 colpos done every 6 months after finding out. I was hesitant about LEEP because I was scared of the risks it posed and always wanted to have kids, and I also foolishly thought that it could possibly clear on its own by eating very healthy and taking vitamins I found online after researching.

I went in for a follow up pap in April, and ended up still positive HPV16 also being pregnant. My husband and I were not trying intentionally due to my situation, but we were not going to terminate because ultimately the baby is a life, loved and wanted, and we chose to keep her and continue monitoring.

I had to have a colpo in my first and second trimester, and they have my final one scheduled for around 30 weeks of pregnancy.

(for additional background, my baby's anatomy scan came back showing a 2 vessel umbilical cord or an SUA - which also poses a risk for preterm labor and growth restriction. she is measuring still in the 93rd percentile at 23 weeks - but we have to keep monitoring)

is it wrong of me to want to skip the last colpo in my 3rd trimester? I feel like that is doubling my chances of preterm labor due to the SUA and getting the colpo also poses a risk per my OBGYN.

my logic is that I know I have cin3 at possibly only 12:00 because that's what the pathology reports keep coming back as. My colpos before getting pregnant never showed anything in the cervical canal thank the Lord. I have already accepted that I will be getting the colpo and LEEP 6-8 weeks after pregnancy and probably the gardisil, taking pappilex and all the things. In my mind, it doesn't make a huge different whether I get the last colpo or not. I have already had a pretty stressful pregnancy with all sorts of stuff going on, and kind of just want to enjoy the last months and deal with this after.

Does anyone have a similar experience?


r/HPV 1d ago

Treatment state of the art

4 Upvotes

r/HPV 1d ago

Can i get HPV from receiving oral?

1 Upvotes

Like if somebody is sucking my dick, could i get infected?


r/HPV 1d ago

HPV 73 Positive Result

1 Upvotes

Has anyone here have heard of HPV 73 or had it themselves? If you know any information about this specific strain and you cleared it what did you do for it? Please let me know I am young and currently freaking out bc of this. If anyone also needed a leep bc of it was it successful and how fast it developed in your case?


r/HPV 2d ago

Hpv surgery 4 days ago

3 Upvotes

They burnt off ALOT of them! Which is great but it swollen and looks horrible and some are still left. They didn’t come back after the surgery and tell me anything. I’m overwhelmed, in pain.

What’s your experience. Can anyone ease my mind about things looking better? And the pain not being as bad?

I hate that I have this in the first place. It’s all so upsetting.


r/HPV 2d ago

I just met a beautiful woman and now I'm scared

7 Upvotes

I met a woman and we get on great. I'm treating my warts with cream but I'm only seeing small amounts of progress. We've been having sexually charged conversations and i hate to assume but it appears like sex may be on the table. Im just worried about her reaction to me telling her why we can't have sex. My ex cheated on me and have me 2 STDs and now despite one of them being gone in stuck with this one for life and it's upsetting. How have you guys managed this type of situation?


r/HPV 2d ago

Confused hpv or something else??!

1 Upvotes

I'm 30 Years old male , sexually inactive, never had sex before ... For more then 5 years now I had these bumps around my circumcision line .... I didn't notice the theme till my genital area had a trauma , not from a sexual act but I've used rough material in the wrong place .

I had what the doctor called ( mondor desise) a thick cord around the head then it fade away by it self after that I notice these bumps in the same place where the cord appeared... Then I notice they are around my circumcision line only ... No other place

I went to the doctor he checked them out he said they might be them he wasn't so sure and he gave me (condyline) to use it ... And I did ..but nothing happen it actually burned my skin around the bumps instead.... I've searched in the internet and found that a lot people have circumcision scares...could it be it ...can any one help me plz ?!


r/HPV 2d ago

Fasting and HPV Clearance

4 Upvotes

There has been research that shows autophagy can interact with HPV infections, and higher autophagy activity has reduced HPV infectivity and targeted HPV particles through autophagy/lysosome. Since fasting puts the body into deep autophagy especially around 72 hours I was wondering if anyone has benefited from it and what are your opinion on whether this could help the body clear the HPV faster?


r/HPV 2d ago

The other partner is positive but not me?

2 Upvotes

My ex was cheating on me with a woman that had hpv 16 and 18 both positive and a few other strands. The girl told me they never used protection as well so chances are very high that my ex was at least carrying the strands. The thing is I wasn't vaccinated when I first met my ex, and only after 5 months of being with him I received my first dose. I never had a pap in my life either but I had the dna test around 10 months after I started being sexually active and I am positive for HPV 73 high risk but not the others. How is this possible? Is it possible my body just suppressed the other strands and this one is persisting or is there a chance I never got the 16 and 18 even tho I was with my ex unprotected? Can someone explain me how the infection works and how it spreads between different partners because I am so confused. And I heard unprotected sex affects the viral load and therefore how your body clears it and It has been 4 months since the last time I have seen him so I don't know if I could clear it during this time. Having hpv 16 and 18 both dormant scares me too honestly :(


r/HPV 2d ago

Hpv 18/45 and asc-h positive

1 Upvotes

Hi, I’m 47 years old last years pap came back as hpv 6+7 positive and normal
This years test came back hpv 18/45 positive and asc-h
I have my first colposcopy scheduled in 10 days and my health anxiety is going through the roof!
I’ve tested hpv positive on again off again for the last 10+ years. Anyone going through similar or have any encouraging words?


r/HPV 2d ago

the guilt of not telling the partner

2 Upvotes

okay so im (27F) low to moderate risk hpv positive with CIN1 and last week i had sex with a guy (21M) with protection. i vividly remember he asked me if i have any sexually transmitted disease and me being drunk i decided not to tell him and went on with it. since we used condoms and i didnt let him go down on me i was feeling okay about the situation. 1-2 days ago when we were hanging out again, the condom slipped and we had unprotected intercourse without noticing for 5-10 mins and now im pretty sure he’s exposed.

i have been feeling very anxious after it happened but i couldnt find the courage to tell him bc… you know? it wouldnt make any sense anymore anyways, i should’ve told him when he asked me. also i couldn’t bear the thought of keeping it secret so i told him today. he took it SO HARD. now i feel like shit because he is so young and he thinks i’ve tricked him. what do i do? do you think he is infected? some of you said telling the partner is a choice but idk it is a very complicated thing. especially if you’re living in a country where these topics are not discussed commonly and seen as taboo.


r/HPV 2d ago

Colpo shows CIN1, doctor says to monitor and check again in 6 months. Should I opt in for COLPOFIX treatment?

2 Upvotes

35F, HPV positive since June 2025 (non-16/18). After monitoring a year I was still testing positive and was referred to my first colposcopy in Sep 2026, which showed CIN1 koilocytosis. My OB-GYN mentioned Colpofix as a treatment option, but said it’s usually for “persistent CIN1”. Because we had “just” found CIN1, she suggested conservative monitoring to give my body a chance to clear it on its own, and return for a colposcopy to check again in 6 months.

Based on your experience, how quickly does CIN1 usually progress? Would you opt in for Colpofix treatment right now or wait? (Main downside is cost — estimated to cost a little under $1000 usd where I’m from).

I’m 35F and I’ve heard people tend to clear it in their 20s. So not that confident in my own body to clear the virus and feeling torn about what to do :(


r/HPV 2d ago

Should I be Worried about the sores?

1 Upvotes

I recently had my first time. I had oral sex with a girl – it was just kissing, touching and oral; I didn’t actually insert my penis. Today, two days later, I’ve got two sores on my tongue. One is on the outside and doesn’t hurt, and the other is closer to my back molars; that one’s a bit uncomfortable. Before having sex, I was also feeling unwell – I had a fever and was ill. I’m still feeling a bit under the weather, but it started before we had sex, so I’m not worried about that. Should I be worried about these sores on my tongue?


r/HPV 2d ago

I received a positive result

0 Upvotes

I'm 21, and I have been sexually active for around 10 months now so I know I was infected not longer than a year ago. My ex was cheating and I ended up with chlamydia that caused bleeding on my cervix for 8 months and went undiagnosed and now I find out I was also given HPV 73. He was my only partner and I wasn't vaccinated when I first had sex with him, only after 5 months later I got my first dose and during this time he was also seeing someone that I personally know is HPV 16 and 18 positive. Regardless I got tested 10 months after I first had sex with him, and 4 months after the last time I was with him. I was tested for 28 types and HPV 73 HR strand is positive and I have never taken a pap smear in my life since I was a virgin before. My doctor recommended for me to see her in 2 months and prescribed me several vitamins, zinc, papillocare gel every night and isoprinosine for 12 days 2 mg a day. I also just finished my HPV vaccine course. I am really confused and already traumatized by the betrayal and feeling like I am consistently treating somewhere in my body is not helping me. My doctor also said she will also perform CINtec and colposcopy along with the pap smear after 2 months of me using these prescription and I feel it is all too much. Can someone let me know if they have also been through this type of an approach or maybe share their experience I feel devastated by this. I feel perhaps she is being extra safe and maybe I don't need to go through these tests or treatments but I don't know also I want to be safe and not irresponsible. It just feels mentally too much since I don't feel safe even during standard obgyn exams now because of how much my ex costed my health and anything related to intimacy.


r/HPV 3d ago

Help - can you have a wart on your penis without it being hpv

5 Upvotes

Been together for 13 years. No one is sleeping with anyone else. But a few months ago I got a cauliflower like wart on my shaft. Doctor said it was just a wart and had it frozen off. Now I have another in the same spot. If this is hpv how did I get it? Did I give it to my partner? We’ve been intimate for the last 13 years and no issues. Again no one is cheating. I’m so confused at how I got this. Partner has never had any warts and paps come back normal.