Three letters scare a lot of women today – HPV. But most women who hear them do not need to panic. They need clear information.
Here it is, in plain language.
What Is HPV?
HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. It is not one virus but a family of more than 200 types.
Most of them are harmless. A few, called low-risk types, cause warts. About fourteen are called high-risk, because they can slowly change the cells of the cervix over many years.
HPV is extremely common. Most sexually active people come in contact with it at some point. In most cases, the body’s own immunity clears it within one or two years.
How Does It Spread?
HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, mainly during sexual contact. Condoms lower the risk but do not remove it fully, because the virus can sit on skin that a condom does not cover.
One thing every woman should know. A positive HPV report does not mean anyone has cheated. The virus can stay quiet in the body for years before it shows up on a test.
Signs to Watch For
HPV usually gives no symptoms at all. That is exactly why regular checkups matter. Still, meet your gynaecologist if you notice:
- Small warts or bumps around the private parts
- Bleeding between periods or after intercourse
- Any bleeding after menopause
- Unusual discharge with a bad smell
- Pain in the lower stomach or during intercourse
None of these confirms cancer. But each one deserves an examination.
The Vaccine That Prevents It
The HPV vaccine is one of the very few vaccines that can prevent cancer.
- Best age is 9 to 14 years, when only two doses are needed
- From 15 to 26 years, three doses are given
- Women between 27 and 45 can take it after talking to their doctor
- Cervavac, Gardasil and Gardasil 9 are available in India
- India started a free national HPV vaccination drive for 14-year-old girls in February 2026
- Boys can take it too, which protects their future partners as well
The vaccine works best before exposure. But even later it still guards against the types you have not met yet. Ask your gynaecologist which one suits your age.
Can HPV Be Cured?
This is the question most women ask the moment they see the report.
There is no medicine that kills the virus itself. In most women, immunity quietly does that job.
What doctors treat is the damage. Warts can be removed. Abnormal cervical cells can be treated with simple procedures, long before they turn dangerous. When caught early, treatment is almost always successful.
Do Not Wait for Symptoms
HPV is common, silent and preventable. A vaccine, a Pap smear every few years, and one honest conversation with your gynaecologist can protect you for life.
At Dr Avhad Hospital, Nashik, our team offers screening, vaccination guidance and treatment, and answers every question without judgement.
Book that checkup. It takes very little time.
