This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the most common sexually transmitted viruses. The CDC says most sexually active people who are not vaccinated will have it at some point. Most never know, and most infections clear without causing any problem.

This guide explains what HPV is made of, what research suggests about how it behaves, how the vaccine works, and how screening differs for HPV in men and HPV in women. It ends with where to get care in New York City.

HPV basics

HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses. The CDC says about 40 of them can infect the genital area, the mouth and the throat. They spread through skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Condoms and dental dams can lower the chance of spread, but they do not cover all skin, so they do not remove it.

Many people ask about HPV symptoms. For most people, there are none. The CDC says most infections have no symptoms and go away on their own, usually within two years. That is why HPV can be passed on without anyone knowing.

When HPV does cause visible signs, the most common one is genital warts. Cancers linked to HPV usually develop many years after the first infection, and they cause symptoms only at a later stage. Only a clinician or a laboratory test can tell a person what is going on.

The virus: structure and key components

This section is the science behind the virus. You do not need it to make a good decision, but it explains why screening and the vaccine work the way they do.

What the particle is made of

HPV is a small virus with no outer envelope. Its genetic material is a circle of double-stranded DNA of roughly 8,000 base pairs. That DNA is wrapped in a protein shell called a capsid. The shell is built mainly from a protein called L1, with a smaller amount of a second protein called L2.

The L1 protein matters because it is what the immune system learns to recognize. The vaccine is built around it.

The genes linked to cancer risk

The viral DNA carries early genes, including two called E6 and E7. Research suggests that in the HPV types classified as high-risk, E6 and E7 interfere with two of the cell's natural brakes on growth, known as p53 and Rb. When an infection stays active for many years, that interference may allow abnormal cells to build up. This is a research observation about a long process, and most infections never reach that point.

Low-risk and high-risk types

Types are grouped by what they are linked to, not by how a person lives.

Types that cause warts. The CDC says HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90 percent of genital warts. These types are not linked to cancer.
High-risk types. The CDC says types 16 and 18 are responsible for most HPV-related cancers, and that HPV causes nearly all cervical cancers.

Having warts does not mean a person has a high-risk type. Having a high-risk type does not mean cancer will develop. Many people carry both kinds over time without knowing it.

HPV in women and people with a cervix

HPV in women is best known for its link to cervical cancer. The same screening applies to anyone with a cervix, including trans men and nonbinary people. The CDC says HPV can also cause cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus and throat.

Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers with a well-studied screening process. Screening looks for changes in cervical cells, or for high-risk HPV itself, before cancer develops. Clinicians can then follow those changes or treat them.

Screening intervals from the USPSTF

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends the following for cervical cancer screening in people with a cervix:

Ages 21 to 29: a Pap test (cytology) every three years.
Ages 30 to 65: a Pap test every three years, an HPV test alone every five years, or both together (co-testing) every five years.
Under 21: the USPSTF recommends against screening.
Over 65: the USPSTF recommends against screening for people who have had adequate prior screening and are not otherwise at high risk.
After a hysterectomy: the USPSTF recommends against screening for people whose cervix was removed and who do not have a history of a serious precancer or cervical cancer.

These are general recommendations. A clinician may suggest a different plan for people with HIV, a weakened immune system or past abnormal results. Ask the clinician what applies to you.

Pap test and HPV test: what each one looks at

A Pap test looks at cervical cells under a microscope. An HPV test looks for the genetic material of high-risk HPV types. Both can be done from the same sample collected during a pelvic exam. An abnormal result is common and does not mean cancer. It usually leads to a follow-up test, and a clinician explains the next step.

HPV in men and people without a cervix

HPV in men is common too. The CDC says HPV can cause genital warts and cancers of the penis, anus and throat in men. Most infections in men also have no symptoms and clear on their own.

Why there is no routine HPV test for men

The CDC says there is no approved HPV test to check for HPV in men, and no approved test to find HPV in the mouth or throat. Part of the reason is that most infections clear on their own, so a positive result would often show something temporary. The CDC does not recommend routine HPV screening for men. The 2021 CDC STI Treatment Guidelines say that testing for the virus itself is not part of routine care outside of cervical screening.

What exists instead is attention to signs. A clinician can look at the genital and anal areas, and can confirm warts by examining them. A person who notices a new bump, a sore that does not heal, bleeding, or a lump can ask a clinician to take a look.

Anal screening

The CDC notes that some experts recommend anal cancer screening for certain groups, such as people with HIV and some gay and bisexual men. There is no national standard screening program for the general population. If you are unsure whether you are in a group where a clinician might suggest it, ask at your next visit.

Genital warts: what a clinician can do

Genital warts are soft, flesh-colored growths that can be flat, raised or cauliflower-like. They may itch or cause discomfort, or cause no symptoms at all. The CDC says warts can go away on their own, stay the same, or grow.

Warts are treatable. A clinician can prescribe or perform treatments, and which one is used depends on where the warts are and how many there are. Treatment removes the visible warts. Research suggests it may not remove the virus itself, so warts can come back. HPV is not curable, but the immune system often clears it over time, and the effects of HPV are treatable and manageable.

Over-the-counter wart products meant for hands and feet are not made for genital skin. Please let a clinician decide what is appropriate.

The HPV vaccine

What it contains

The HPV vaccine used in the United States protects against nine types, including 16 and 18 (high-risk) and 6 and 11 (warts). It is made from virus-like particles built from the L1 protein. The CDC says these particles contain no viral DNA, so they cannot cause an HPV infection. They prompt the body to make antibodies against the shell of the virus.

Who is advised to get it

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the CDC recommend routine vaccination at age 11 or 12, and it can start as early as age 9. Catch-up vaccination is recommended for everyone through age 26 who has not been vaccinated. For adults ages 27 to 45, the CDC says the decision is made together with a clinician, because fewer people in that age group are likely to gain new benefit. The number of doses depends on the age at which a person starts, and a clinician will explain the plan.

What research suggests

A large Swedish study in the New England Journal of Medicine (2020) found that women vaccinated before age 17 had a much lower rate of cervical cancer than unvaccinated women, about 88 percent lower in that group.
The CDC reports that infections with the HPV types in the vaccine have dropped sharply in teens and young adults since the vaccine was introduced.
A Scottish population study published in the BMJ in 2024 reported no cases of invasive cervical cancer among women who were vaccinated at ages 12 and 13 and followed in the study.

These are observational findings. They are consistent with each other, but observation studies describe associations and cannot be read as a promise for any one person. The vaccine does not treat an infection a person already has, and it does not cover every HPV type, which is why cervical screening still matters after vaccination.

Safety profile and who should wait

The CDC says the HPV vaccine has been studied extensively and monitored in the years since it came into use. The most common effects are mild: soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, and sometimes headache, tiredness or a low fever. Fainting can happen after any vaccine in teens and young adults, so the CDC advises sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes afterward.

The CDC lists the main reasons a person should not get the vaccine, or should wait:

A severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or to a component of the vaccine.
Pregnancy. The CDC says vaccination should be delayed until after pregnancy. Getting the vaccine while pregnant without knowing it has not been linked to harm in the data collected so far, but this is a clinician conversation.
A moderate or severe illness at the time. A mild cold is not a reason to wait.

Tell the clinician about allergies, pregnancy or a possible pregnancy, and any past reaction to vaccines.

Quality indicators: how to judge the care you are offered

This is the practical part of knowing where to go. These signs usually mean a screening or vaccine service follows national guidance:

It follows a named guideline. Cervical screening that matches the USPSTF intervals, and vaccination that matches CDC advice, are a good sign.
A clinician is involved. Pap and HPV tests are collected by a clinician, and the sample goes to a licensed laboratory. A clinician also explains results and follow-up.
The service is clear about what a test can and cannot do. For example, a clear explanation that there is no approved HPV test for men is a mark of accurate information.
The information is not sales-driven. Be cautious of any service that pushes a particular product or kit.

The CDC's gettested.cdc.gov locator can also help you find a testing site by ZIP code.

Cervical screening, HPV vaccination and testing in New York City

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene runs Sexual Health Clinics across the city. The department says they offer low-cost or no-cost care. Adults 19 and older are asked for insurance or a sliding-scale fee, no proof of income is required, no payment is collected at the clinic, and no one is turned away for inability to pay. Most services are walk-in, and clinics may close early once capacity is reached. Anyone 12 or older can be seen without parental consent, regardless of immigration status.

The health department says its clinics offer STI and HIV testing, treatment, PrEP and PEP, and the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine is given only to patients who are also receiving other sexual health services, not as a stand-alone visit. The clinic pages do not list Pap tests or HPV tests for cervical screening, so call the clinic hotline to ask, or ask your primary care clinician or a gynecology provider.

The Sexual Health Clinic Hotline is 347-396-7959 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). The department's Sexual Health Clinics page has the current list and hours. Open clinics include:

Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic, 303 9th Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10001
Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, 2238 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10037
Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic, 295 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Morrisania Sexual Health Clinic, 1309 Fulton Avenue, Bronx, NY 10456
Jamaica Sexual Health Clinic, 90-37 Parsons Boulevard, Queens, NY 11432
Corona Sexual Health Clinic, 34-33 Junction Boulevard, Queens, NY 11372

The health department says there is no city sexual health clinic on Staten Island in its open list, so Staten Island residents may want to call the hotline or ask a clinician about options in another borough. Hours differ by clinic, so check before you go. You can also see the local testing list on this site, or read our guide to STD testing in New York City.

Other places that offer HPV vaccination

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, an LGBTQ+ community health center, lists the HPV vaccine among its sexual health services. The Chelsea site is at 356 W 18th St, phone 212-271-7200. Callen-Lorde says it serves people regardless of ability to pay, with a sliding fee for uninsured and underinsured patients.
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, 312-320 East 94th Street, Manhattan, serves young people ages 10 to 26. Mount Sinai says its services are completely free, with walk-in hours Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone number is 212-423-3000.

Young people and consent

New York Public Health Law section 2305 allows a licensed physician to diagnose and treat a person under 21 who has or may have been exposed to an STD without parental consent or knowledge. Whether this covers a specific vaccine visit can depend on the setting, so ask the clinic when you call.

HPV and other infections

HPV often exists alongside other sexually transmitted infections, and a visit for one concern is a natural time to talk about the rest. Bacterial infections such as chlamydia are curable with treatment from a clinician. Our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in New York City explains what to expect. HIV is not curable but is treatable and manageable, and the clinics above also offer HIV testing.

Questions to bring to a clinician

Is it time for cervical screening for me, and which type?
Should I get the HPV vaccine, and how many visits will it take?
I noticed a bump or a change in skin. Can you examine it?
Is there anything about my health history that changes the screening plan?
Is anal cancer screening something to discuss in my situation?

Asking these questions is routine. Clinicians hear them every day, and nobody is judged for asking.

The takeaway

HPV is common, usually silent and often clears by itself. Cervical screening and the vaccine are the two main tools, and both are available at low or no cost in New York City. If you are not sure where to start, call the Sexual Health Clinic Hotline or use gettested.cdc.gov to find a site.

HPV in Men and Women: Testing, Vaccines and Cervical Screening in New York City