This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, according to the CDC. Most people who are sexually active will come into contact with it at some point. Most never know.

That is why HPV is handled differently from chlamydia, gonorrhea or HIV. The testing options depend on your body, your age and which type of HPV is in question. This guide explains how the virus works, what research suggests about HPV in men and HPV in women, how cervical screening works, and where to ask questions in Las Vegas.

What HPV is: the virus in plain terms

HPV is not one virus. It is a large family of related viruses. The CDC says there are more than 200 types, and about 40 of them can infect the genital area, mouth and throat.

Structurally, HPV is a small virus with a DNA genome inside a protein shell. It has no outer envelope. That shell is built mainly from a protein called L1, and that protein is what the vaccines are designed around.

HPV infects skin cells and the moist lining of the cervix, vagina, anus, penis, mouth and throat. It spreads through skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Condoms and dental dams can lower the chance of passing it on, but they do not cover all the skin that can be involved. The CDC notes that a person can have HPV for years before any sign appears.

The CDC also says that most HPV infections go away on their own, usually within two years, without causing health problems. A smaller number last longer. Those lasting infections with certain types are the ones linked to cancer.

Low-risk and high-risk types: warts versus cancer risk

Clinicians group HPV types by what they are linked to, not by how the infection was acquired. This is the most useful idea in the whole topic.

Types that cause warts

The CDC says HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90 percent of genital warts. These are often called low-risk types because they are not linked to cancer. Warts can be flat or raised, single or in clusters, and may be hard to notice. They can be treated by a clinician, and they sometimes go away without treatment. They can also come back.

Types linked to cancer

Other types are called high-risk. The CDC reports that types 16 and 18 are responsible for most HPV-related cervical cancers. Persistent infection with high-risk types can also lead to cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and the back of the throat.

Having a high-risk type does not mean cancer will develop. Research suggests that, for most people, the immune system clears these types before cell changes become serious. Screening exists to find changes early, when they can be monitored or treated.

HPV symptoms: why most people notice nothing

The honest answer about HPV symptoms is that there are usually none. The CDC states that most people with HPV do not feel sick and do not know they have it.

The signs that can appear include:

Genital warts, which come from low-risk types.
Warts on the hands, feet or other skin, which come from different, non-genital types.
Rarely, small growths in the throat from certain types.

Cervical precancer from high-risk HPV does not cause symptoms. The CDC says cervical cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. Later signs can include unusual bleeding or discharge or pelvic pain, but those have many other causes. Only a clinician can sort out what is behind a symptom.

If you notice a new bump, sore or bleeding that is unusual for you, a clinician can examine it. Looking at it yourself or comparing it to photos cannot tell you what it is.

HPV in men: why there is no routine test

Many people are surprised to learn that there is no approved HPV test to check a man for the virus. The CDC says that no HPV test is approved for men to find out whether they have HPV, and that the HPV tests that exist are used for cervical screening in women.

This does not mean HPV in men is rare or harmless. Research suggests that HPV is common in people of every gender. The CDC notes that most men with HPV never develop symptoms or health problems. When problems do occur, they can include genital warts and, less often, cancers of the penis, anus or the back of the throat.

Here is what that means in practice:

A standard STD panel does not include HPV. The CDC lists HPV separately from the infections that routine panels cover.
A clinician can examine the skin and diagnose warts by looking.
The CDC does not recommend routine screening for anal, penile or throat HPV in the general population. Some clinicians have specific screening approaches for people at higher risk of anal cancer, including some people with HIV. A clinician can tell you whether that applies to you.

For men and for anyone with a penis, the main tools are the vaccine, skin checks by a clinician if something changes, and regular sexual health care. If you are curious about the rest of a sexual health check-up, the guide to STD testing in Las Vegas, where to get tested and what it costs covers the infections that routine testing does look for.

HPV in women: cervical screening

For HPV in women, there are two kinds of screening tests, and both are done on a sample of cells from the cervix:

Cervical cytology, often called a Pap test. It looks at cells under a microscope for changes.
High-risk HPV testing. It looks for the genetic material of the high-risk types.

These tests screen for cervical cell changes. They are not a general STD test. A person can have a normal Pap result and still need separate testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea or other infections.

Screening intervals from the USPSTF

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on cervical cancer screening, last finalized in 2018, says:

Ages 21 to 29: screening with cervical cytology every 3 years.
Ages 30 to 65: any one of three options: cytology every 3 years, high-risk HPV testing every 5 years, or both together (called cotesting) every 5 years.
Under 21: screening is not recommended.
Over 65: screening is not recommended for people who have had adequate prior screening and are not otherwise at high risk.
After a hysterectomy that removed the cervix: screening is not recommended for people without a history of a serious cervical precancer or cervical cancer.

The USPSTF also notes that its guidance may update over time, so check its site for the current version. These intervals are for people at average risk. A clinician may recommend a different plan if you have HIV, a weakened immune system, a past abnormal result, or other factors. Screening applies to anyone with a cervix, including transgender men and nonbinary people.

What an abnormal result means

An abnormal screening result is common and is not a cancer diagnosis. It usually means a clinician will want a closer look, such as repeat testing or a follow-up exam of the cervix. Research suggests that finding and managing cell changes early is the reason cervical cancer rates have fallen where screening is widely used. Any follow-up decisions belong with the clinician who has your results.

The HPV vaccine: what research suggests

The vaccine used in the United States today protects against nine HPV types, including the two wart types (6 and 11) and the high-risk types that cause most HPV-related cancers. The CDC says the vaccine works best when given before someone is exposed to HPV, which is why the routine recommendation starts young.

Who the CDC recommends it for

Routine vaccination at age 11 or 12, with vaccination possible starting at age 9.
Catch-up vaccination for everyone through age 26 who was not vaccinated earlier.
For adults ages 27 through 45, a shared decision between the person and their clinician, since many adults have already been exposed to some types and the benefit is smaller.

The number of doses depends on how old a person is when they start. A clinician or pharmacist can tell you what applies to you.

What the research shows

CDC monitoring and large studies suggest that the vaccine has sharply reduced infections with the targeted types and has reduced cervical precancer in vaccinated groups. The vaccine does not treat an existing HPV infection or clear warts. It also does not cover every HPV type, so cervical screening still applies to vaccinated women.

Safety profile and who should talk to a clinician first

The CDC states that HPV vaccines have been studied extensively and that safety monitoring continues. The most common effects are mild: soreness, redness or swelling at the arm, and sometimes headache, fever or fatigue. Fainting can happen after any injection, so people are often asked to sit for a short time afterward.

The CDC lists these cautions:

People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or to a vaccine component should not receive it. The CDC notes that the vaccine contains a yeast-derived protein, so tell the clinician about a yeast allergy.
The vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy. A clinician can tell you when to resume if a series was interrupted.
People who are moderately or severely ill on the day may be asked to wait until they recover.

Anyone with a health condition or medication that affects the immune system can ask a clinician how that fits with vaccination.

Quality indicators: what to look for in HPV-related care

Unlike a product, HPV care has no ingredients to inspect. But there are signs of quality worth knowing about.

The test matches the purpose. Cervical screening tests are for the cervix. A clinic should be able to say which test is being used and why, and which infections it does and does not cover.
Results come with a plan. A good clinic explains what happens if a result is abnormal and who will contact you.
Prevention is on the table. Ask whether the clinic offers or can refer you for HPV vaccination.
Costs are explained up front. Ask what the visit, the screening test and any follow-up cost, and whether a sliding scale applies.

Screening and vaccine access in Las Vegas

Public sources do not list every HPV service at every Las Vegas clinic, so a quick call before you go is worth it. Here is what is published.

Southern Nevada Health District

The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) Sexual Health Clinic offers STI testing and treatment at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. and at 2830 E. Fremont St. The clinic page says walk-ins for STI testing and treatment are available until capacity is reached. SNHD says its charges are based on income and household size, and that you will not be turned away on the day of your visit because you cannot pay. The clinic number is (702) 759-1700.

The SNHD clinic page lists STI and HIV testing, PrEP, PEP and treatment. It does not list cervical screening or HPV vaccination, so ask when you call. SNHD's free Express Testing is for people without symptoms, and the health district's hours differ between its own pages, so confirm hours before you go.

Nevada Health Centers

Nevada Health Centers lists STD testing among its reproductive health services at the Martin Luther King Family Health Center, 1799 Mount Mariah Dr., phone 702.383.1961, and at the Nellis Family Medical Center, 691 N. Nellis Blvd., phone 702.563.4662. The organization says it has a sliding-fee discount program based on family size and income. The pages reviewed do not say whether Pap tests or HPV vaccination are offered at each site, so ask when you call.

The Center and UNLV

The Arlene Cooper Community Health Center at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway, offers HIV testing at no cost and STI screening at a low cost. Its page says appointments are highly encouraged and a limited number of walk-ins are available each day. The phone for appointments is 702-802-5432. UNLV students can ask the UNLV Student Health Center at 702-895-3370, which lists STI and HIV testing. The pages reviewed do not publish a price for UNLV.

You can compare these options in the local testing list. You can also search for other free and low-cost sites at gettested.cdc.gov, the CDC's testing locator.

Consent for minors

Nevada law, NRS 129.060, sets no minimum age for a minor to consent to examination and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and to STD prevention services. The statute does not name HPV vaccination specifically, so a young person or parent can ask the clinic how it handles vaccine consent.

Questions to bring to an appointment

Which screening test fits my age and history, and how often should I repeat it?
Can I get the HPV vaccine here, or where do you send people?
What does this visit cost, and is there a sliding scale?
If I have a wart or a skin change, can you look at it today?
Should I also be tested for other infections? For example, the guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Las Vegas explains a common infection that is checked separately from HPV.

A calm way to think about it

HPV is common, often silent and usually cleared by the immune system. The tools that matter are the vaccine, regular cervical screening for people with a cervix, and a clinician who can look at anything that changes. HPV has no cure for the virus itself, but warts and cervical cell changes can be treated by a clinician, and the infection is manageable. Having HPV says nothing about a person's character or choices.

HPV in Men and Women: Testing, Vaccines and Cervical Screening in Las Vegas