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Click on the statements below to see if they are TRUE or FALSE. There are many types of HPV. TRUE There are many types of HPV. There are 40 types of HPV that infect the anogenital area of males and females. Some of the HPV types are called “high risk,” which means that these types put a person at higher risk of getting cancer. High risk types are the types that can cause cancer, such as cervical cancer. Some of the HPV types are also called “low risk,” which means that these types put a person at lower risk of getting cancer. Low risk types are the types that can cause genital warts. FALSE HPV cannot and does not cause HIV/AIDS. The virus that causes AIDS is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HPV is not the same as HIV (virus that causes AIDS), HSV (herpes), HepB (Hepatitis B). FALSE Though antibiotics cannot cure HPV, researchers do not know for sure if HPV can or cannot be cured or if once a person gets HPV that he or she will always have it. More studies are underway. Right now, most researchers think that HPV does not cause problems in people who have healthy immune systems. You can always tell when someone has HPV. FALSE It is not always possible to know if someone has HPV. If a person has genital warts that can be seen, then it is possible. However, some types of HPV (especially high risk types) are not easily visible. HPV can cause abnormal Pap tests. TRUE HPV can cause abnormal Pap tests. HPV infects the cells of the cervix, which can cause the cells to be abnormal when a woman has a Pap test. FALSE Both men and women can get HPV and develop genital warts and cancer from HPV. Both men and women can get checked for genital warts to find out if they have HPV. Right now, only women can find out if they have a type of HPV that has been shown to cause cancer. FALSE HPV cannot and does not cause herpes. HPV can affect your ability to get pregnant. TRUE More and more studies are showing the having HPV can affect a women’s ability to get pregnant, carry a baby to full term, and deliver the baby through the birth canal (vagina). TRUE HPV is a virus. It is unknown if once you get HPV is you always have HPV. There are not antibiotics (medicine) to cure HPV. Sometimes, signs of HPV can go away on their own. Once you get HPV, you always have it. DON’T KNOW Though antibiotics cannot cure HPV, researchers do not know for sure if HPV can or cannot be cured or if once a person gets HPV that he or she will always have it. More studies are underway. Right now, most researchers think that HPV does not cause problems in people who have healthy immune systems. A vaccine can prevent some types of HPV. TRUE The first vaccine to prevent some types of HPV was approved by the U.S. FDA in June 2006. The vaccine, called GARDASIL® (Merck & Co.), prevents four types of HPV infection (two high risk types and two low risk types). TRUE Some types of HPV, called low risk types, can cause genital warts. You can have HPV without knowing it. TRUE It is possible for someone to have HPV and not know it. Sometimes, signs of HPV can go away on their own before it is detected. DON’T KNOW Though antibiotics cannot cure HPV, researchers do not know for sure if HPV can or cannot be cured or if once a person gets HPV that he or she will always have it. More studies are underway. Right now, most researchers think that HPV does not cause long-term problems in people who have healthy immune systems. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection. TRUE HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (also called sexually transmitted disease or venereal disease). HPV is passed from an infected person to another person by skin-to-skin contact in the genital area. HPV can cause cervical cancer. TRUE Some types of HPV, called high risk types, can cause cervical cancer. TRUE HPV may go away by itself before causing any problems. You can get HPV by not keeping yourself clean. FALSE A woman or man cannot get HPV by not keeping himself or herself clean. This is a myth that is untrue. TRUE HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. It is estimated that 7.2 million people get an HPV infection each year. Only women can be tested for HPV. TRUE Both men and women can get HPV and develop genital warts and cancer from HPV. Both men and women can get checked for genital warts to find out if they have HPV. Right now, only women can find out if they have a type of HPV that has been shown to cause cancer by having an HPV DNA test. The HPV vaccine gets rid of the need for Pap tests. FALSE Women should still follow the recommendation for cervical cancer screening even if they have had the vaccine (GARDASIL®). GARDASIL® protects against four types of HPV, but there are many other types that could cause cervical cancer. Therefore, Pap tests are still very important.
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