HPV & genital warts

What it is. HPV (human papillomavirus) is the most common STI — so common that most sexually active people get it at some point. Usually the body clears it on its own with no problems. Some types cause genital warts; other "high-risk" types can, over many years, lead to certain cancers (including cervical cancer).

How you'd know. Most HPV has no symptoms. When warts appear they are usually painless little bumps on the genitals or back passage. High-risk HPV that could affect the cervix causes no symptoms — which is exactly why screening matters.

How it's tested. There is no routine STI swab for HPV. Warts are diagnosed just by looking at them. For cervical health, there is a separate cervical screening program (a swab of the cervix) — the schedule is set by provincial screening programs and the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, not by STI testing.

Is it curable? Warts can be treated and most HPV clears on its own, but there's no medicine that removes the virus itself. The good news: the vaccine prevents the types that cause most warts and cancers.

Treatment for warts. Options include prescription creams (imiquimod or sinecatechins), freezing (cryotherapy) in clinic, or other in-clinic treatments — or simply watching and waiting, since warts often go away by themselves. It can take a few rounds; that's normal.

Prevention — the big one. The HPV vaccine (Gardasil-9) is safe and highly effective, and works best given before any exposure — but many adults still benefit. Ask us if it's right for you. Condoms lower risk but don't cover every area.