How is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Treated?
There is no treatment for HPV. If symptoms, such as genital warts, flare up, those can be treated, but the root cause of them has no treatment and you will probably be a carrier for life.
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It is important to notify your partner of your condition and use protection.
Recovery Time
HPV cannot be treated or cured. Recent studies show that some very healthy people may be able to beat the disease. However, there is no definite timeline for that process. For the remainder of patients, they will probably be carriers of HPV for life.
Mark Riegel, MD
Quick snapshot
Can it be cured?
Yes. Viruses don't have cures, but symptoms can be controlled with proper treatment.
Type of Infection
Viral. The human papillomavirus is the cause of the infection.
How is it treated?
The virus itself has no treatment. However, various treatments exist for the genital warts it sometimes causes.
Recovery Time
As there is no treatment for the virus, it will most likely be carried for life, and thus there is no time line for recovery.
Can I have sex?
Yes. However, partners should be informed of your condition and condoms should always be used.
Can I get re-infected?
Yes. There are many strains of HPV and even if you carry one strain, you can still be infected with another.