Can You Have Sex With HPV? Partners and Disclosure

Being told you have HPV, or that a partner does, can make intimacy feel complicated. HPV is the most common STI, and most people who have it never develop any problems. A few facts make the questions around sex and telling a partner easier to think through.

Can I have sex if I have HPV?

In most cases, yes. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, and the CDC says most people with HPV never develop symptoms or health problems from it.

The main exception is genital warts. The CDC says if you or your partner have genital warts, stop having sex until you no longer have warts. Warts can be spread during sex, so it’s worth getting them checked and treated before resuming.

For HPV without visible warts, the CDC fact sheet does not ask people to stop having sex. Talk to your clinician about your own situation, especially if you’ve had an abnormal cervical screening result.

Can I pass HPV to my partner?

Yes, it’s possible. The CDC says a person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms. It also says that sex partners tend to share HPV, even though signs such as warts might occur in only one or neither partner.

So by the time you learn you have HPV, your partner may already have it too. Many people clear HPV on their own: the CDC says in most cases (9 out of 10) it goes away within two years without health problems.

Do condoms protect against HPV?

They help, but not completely. The CDC says using condoms the right way every time you have sex can lower your chances of getting HPV, but HPV can infect areas the condom does not cover. MedlinePlus says correct use of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading HPV.

If you or your partner are allergic to latex, MedlinePlus notes that polyurethane condoms can be used.

Should I tell my partner I have HPV?

The CDC advises that people with genital warts should tell their current partners, because the types of HPV that cause warts can be passed on. Partners should know that they may already have HPV despite no visible signs.

For HPV without warts, there is no official rule. The CDC says no recommendation can be made about telling future partners, because we don’t know how long the virus persists after warts are gone. So it’s a personal choice. Some ideas that can make the conversation easier:

• Start with the facts: HPV is very common, and most people who have sex will get it at some point.
• Explain that it often has no symptoms and can’t be dated, so nobody is to blame.
• Mention what you’re doing about it, such as screening, treatment or vaccination.
• Choose a calm moment and a private place, not in the middle of sex.

How do I know when I got HPV, and who gave it to me?

You can’t. The CDC says the time of HPV acquisition cannot be definitively determined, and you can develop symptoms years after having sex with someone who has the infection. So an HPV result or a wart doesn’t tell you when it was passed on, or whether a current partner is the source. See can you get HPV without sex or kissing.

Does my partner need a test?

There’s no test to find out a person’s HPV status. The CDC does not recommend HPV testing for sex partners of people with genital warts. Partners might benefit from a physical exam for warts by a doctor or clinician, and from an online STD test for other STIs. If your partner has a cervix, routine cervical screening for women aged 21 to 65 is the way HPV-related changes are found. Read more in HPV testing for men.

Can the vaccine help?

The CDC says the HPV vaccine is safe and effective and available to both males and females. It prevents most genital warts in people who have not yet been exposed to the wart-causing types, but it does not treat existing HPV. If you are over 26 and not vaccinated, MedlinePlus suggests asking your provider about it.