Lecture Notes

In 90% of the cases, the body's immune system clears the HPV naturally within 2 years. This includes both high-risk and low-risk types. If a high-risk HPV infection is not cleared by the immune system, it can linger for many years and turn abnormal cells into cancer over time. The Pap test can identify abnormal or precancerous tissue in the cervix so that it can be removed before cancer develops. An HPV DNA test, which can find high-risk HPV on a women's cervix, may also be used with a Pap test in certain cases.

Visible genital warts can be removed by the patient him- or herself with prescribed medications or treated by a health-care provider. Some people choose not to treat warts but see if they disappear on their own. Removal of the warts does not eliminate HPV from the person's system. The extent to which a person can still transmit HPV after the visible warts have been removed is unknown. Those that develop cancer from HPV can undergo surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.