My Partner Has HPV
What Should I Do?

When HPV is detected in a man, the woman must have an HPV DNA test. After the test result is obtained, the treatment and follow-up plan should be determined according to the type identified.

If low-risk HPV types are detected or if no HPV is found, vaccination is recommended and protection with a condom should be maintained until the infected partner's treatment is completed.

If high-risk HPV types are detected, colposcopy should be performed, a biopsy should be taken when necessary, and the patient should be placed on a regular follow-up protocol. The aim is to prevent the development of cervical cancer.

What Should a Man Do When HPV Is Detected in a Woman?

When HPV is detected in a woman, whether an HPV DNA test should be performed on the man is still a matter of debate. There is no clear consensus on routine HPV screening in men.

However, in men aged 9–26, the HPV vaccine reduces viral transmission and provides protection against cancers of the penis, head and neck, and anal canal.

Does HPV Mean Infidelity?

HPV is mostly transmitted sexually. However, this does not always mean that transmission occurred in the current relationship. The virus can remain silent in the body for years. The man or the woman may have acquired the virus before the current relationship.

In women, the first signs of infection may be mild and may have gone unnoticed. A lesion that appears years later may be a reactivation of the initial infection.

Can HPV Be Transmitted Through Non-Sexual Routes?

Although non-sexual transmission routes of HPV are rare, they are possible. In the literature, transmission through vertical transmission (mother-to-baby), fomites and skin contact has been reported.

Waxing can theoretically carry a risk of transmission. If the cells where the virus has settled are removed from the skin and come into contact with another irritated area, the possibility of transmission may arise. However, this is a rare situation.

When HPV is diagnosed, before blaming each other, couples should know that the virus can remain silent for a long time and that a past infection can emerge years later.