From the Guidelines
The safest sexual practices for an HPV-positive woman include consistent condom use, limiting sexual partners, maintaining open communication with partners about HPV status, and considering HPV vaccination for eligible partners. According to the most recent guidelines 1, condoms provide partial protection against HPV transmission, though the virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact in areas not covered by condoms. Women with HPV should continue regular cervical cancer screenings as recommended by their healthcare provider, typically every 3-5 years depending on age and test type. If visible genital warts are present, it's advisable to avoid sexual contact until they are treated, as this is when the virus is most transmissible.
Some key points to consider:
- The benefit of disclosing a positive HPV test to current and future sex partners is unclear 1
- Sex partners of persons with HPV infection also are likely to have an HPV infection 1
- Female sex partners of men who disclose they had a previous female partner with HPV should be screened at the same intervals as women with average risk 1
- When used correctly and consistently, condoms might lower the risk for HPV infection and might decrease the time to clear in those with HPV infection 1
Treatment options for genital warts include topical medications like imiquimod 5% cream (applied 3 times weekly for up to 16 weeks), podofilox 0.5% solution or gel (applied twice daily for 3 days, followed by 4 days of no treatment, for up to 4 cycles), or provider-administered treatments like cryotherapy. Most HPV infections clear naturally within 1-2 years through the body's immune response, but practicing safer sex remains important during this time. Regular health check-ups are essential to monitor for any cervical cell changes that might require treatment.
It's also important to note that:
- HPV does not affect a woman's fertility or ability to carry a pregnancy to term 1
- Correct and consistent male condom use might lower the chances of giving or getting genital HPV, but such use is not fully protective because HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom 1
- Sexually active persons can lower their chances of getting HPV by limiting their number of partners 1
From the Research
Safest Sexual Practices for an HPV Positive Woman
To minimize the risk of transmitting HPV to partners and to reduce the risk of developing HPV-related conditions, the following safest sexual practices are recommended:
- Use of condoms and dental dams may decrease the spread of the virus 2
- Vaccination is the primary method of prevention, although it is most effective when administered before exposure to the virus 2, 3
- Limiting the number of sexual partners can also reduce the risk of transmitting HPV 2
- Avoiding sexual contact when genital warts are present can help prevent transmission 4
Reducing the Risk of HPV-Related Conditions
While condoms may not prevent HPV infection, they may protect against genital warts, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and invasive cervical cancer (ICC) 5
- Regular screening for HPV infection and related conditions can help identify precancerous lesions and allow for interventions to prevent the development of cancer 2, 3
- Treatment of genital warts and other HPV-related conditions can help reduce the risk of transmission and prevent the development of cancer 6, 4
Additional Considerations
- HPV testing in the secondary prevention of cervical cancer is clinically valuable in triaging low-grade cytological abnormalities and is also more sensitive than cytology as a primary screening 3
- The nonavalent HPV vaccine is effective in preventing the development of high-grade precancerous cervical lesions in noninfected patients 2