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 one of the most common viruses passed through intimate contact. The CDC says most people who are sexually active will get it at some point in their lives. Most of the time the body clears it without anyone noticing.

That is the calm part of the story. The more detailed part is that a few types of HPV can cause health problems years later, and the ways to check for those problems are different for people with a cervix and people without one.

This guide covers HPV in men and women, what HPV symptoms can look like, why there is no routine HPV test for men, how often the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends cervical screening, how the vaccine works, and where to find care in Chicago.

HPV basics: a large family of viruses

HPV is not one virus. The CDC describes more than 150 related viruses, and about 40 of them can infect the genital area, mouth or throat. They spread through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal or oral sex. They can also spread between partners of any gender or orientation.

Because the virus lives on skin and in the lining of the body, condoms and dental dams can lower the chance of passing it on but may not cover every area of skin. The CDC notes this when it explains how HPV spreads.

Most infections do not last. According to the CDC, the immune system clears most HPV infections on its own, usually within two years, and many people never know they had it.

HPV cannot be cured as a virus. What a clinician can do is treat the problems it sometimes causes, such as genital warts or abnormal cell changes on the cervix. HPV is best described as manageable, and many infections go away without treatment.

Low-risk and high-risk types: warts versus cell changes

Doctors group HPV types by what they are linked to. The two groups behave very differently.

Low-risk types and genital warts

Low-risk types do not usually lead to cancer. Some of them cause genital warts. The CDC says HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90 percent of genital warts.

Warts can look like small bumps, a cluster of bumps or a flat patch. They can be raised, smooth or rough. They may be on the vulva, penis, scrotum, anus, groin or thigh. Some people notice them, and some do not.

A clinician can look at a growth and tell you what it is. Warts are not a sign of anything about a person's character or habits. Clinicians have several ways to treat them, and a clinician decides which fits.

High-risk types and cell changes

High-risk types, about 14 of them according to the CDC, can cause cells to change over time. When an infection with one of these types stays for many years, it can lead to cancer. The CDC says HPV types 16 and 18 cause most HPV-related cervical cancers.

HPV can also be linked to cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus and the back of the throat. The CDC reports that cancer at the back of the throat is the most common HPV-related cancer in men in the United States.

These changes usually take years to develop. That long timeline is the reason screening and vaccination matter. Both are meant to act long before anything serious could happen.

HPV symptoms in men and women

Here is the plain answer about HPV symptoms: there often are none. The CDC states that most people with HPV do not have symptoms, and the virus often goes away before it causes any problem.

When signs do appear, they tend to fall into a few groups:

Genital warts from low-risk types, as described above.
Cervical cell changes, which cause no feeling at all. They are found only on a screening test.
Later signs of cancer, which can include unusual bleeding, a lump that does not go away, a sore throat that lasts, trouble swallowing or pain in the area. These can have many other causes, and a clinician can sort out which applies.

HPV in women and HPV in men look much the same on the surface. The difference is in what can be checked. A cervix can be screened. Most other parts of the body do not have a routine screening test.

A clinician can also tell you more if you notice a new growth, bleeding after sex, or a change that worries you. Telling a clinician about any of these is a good use of an appointment.

HPV in men: why there is no routine test

People often ask whether men can get tested for HPV. The CDC says there is no approved test to check a man's overall "HPV status," and no routine HPV screening is recommended for men.

Part of the reason is that most HPV infections in men clear on their own and cause no problem. Another part is that there is no widely accepted screening test for the places HPV can affect in men, such as the penis or the throat.

Here is what is available:

A clinician can examine the skin and diagnose genital warts by looking at them.
The CDC notes that some experts recommend anal cell testing for certain groups, such as gay and bisexual men and people with HIV, but there is no national guideline for the general public. A clinician can say whether it makes sense for a particular person.
The CDC says there is no approved routine screening test for HPV-related throat cancer. A clinician can check any symptoms that last.

The CDC does not publish a window period for HPV the way it does for HIV or syphilis, because HPV is not detected in a routine blood test. Any timing question about a possible exposure is best taken to a clinician.

Men are still affected by the vaccine decision. The vaccine protects men from HPV-related cancers and warts, and it lowers the chance of passing HPV to partners.

HPV in women and people with a cervix: screening intervals

For people with a cervix, regular screening is the main tool. This covers women, many trans men and nonbinary people, and anyone else who has a cervix.

Screening looks for cell changes before they become cancer. There are two kinds of test. A cytology test (often called a Pap test) looks at the cells. An HPV test looks for high-risk types of the virus. Both use a small sample taken from the cervix during a clinic visit.

The USPSTF recommends the following for people with a cervix:

Age group	USPSTF recommendation
Under 21	Screening is not recommended.
21 to 29	Cytology every 3 years.
30 to 65	Any one of three options: cytology every 3 years, high-risk HPV testing every 5 years, or both together (cotesting) every 5 years.
Over 65	Screening may stop if earlier screening was adequate and the person is not at high risk.
After a hysterectomy that removed the cervix	Screening is not recommended if there is no history of a serious cervical precancer or cervical cancer.

These are general recommendations for people at average risk. A clinician may suggest a different schedule after an abnormal result, with a weakened immune system, or after prior treatment. The right plan depends on your own history.

An abnormal result is common and does not mean cancer. It usually means a clinician will want to look more closely or repeat the test. Most cell changes either go away or can be treated well when they are found early.

The HPV vaccine

The vaccine is the strongest prevention tool for HPV. The CDC says it can prevent more than 90 percent of the cancers caused by HPV when given at the recommended ages. The vaccine currently used in the United States protects against nine HPV types, including the high-risk and wart-causing types discussed above.

The CDC recommends:

Routine vaccination at age 11 or 12, which can start as early as age 9.
Catch-up vaccination through age 26 for anyone not vaccinated earlier.
A conversation with a clinician for ages 27 through 45. The CDC calls this shared clinical decision-making, because the benefit is smaller for people who have likely already encountered HPV.

How many shots a person needs depends on their age when they start. A clinician or pharmacist can explain the schedule that applies.

Research suggests the vaccine works best before a person is exposed to HPV. It can still help afterward, because it protects against types a person may not have had yet. The vaccine does not treat an existing infection.

The CDC also reports that the vaccine has been studied for safety and that the most common effects are mild, such as soreness in the arm. People with a severe allergy to a vaccine ingredient, or a past severe reaction to the vaccine, should talk to a clinician first. The CDC also advises waiting if someone is moderately or severely ill, and delaying vaccination during pregnancy. A clinician can go through the full list.

Vaccinated people still need cervical screening on the schedule above, because the vaccine does not cover every high-risk type.

Screening and vaccine access in Chicago

Chicago has several places that offer sexual health care, and a few that list the HPV vaccine. Not every site offers every service, so it helps to ask when you call.

Where the HPV vaccine is listed

Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center (Cook County Health), 2020 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612, phone 312-572-4700. The CDC GetTested listing for this site includes the HPV vaccine along with STI and HIV testing. The CDC listing also notes sliding scale fees, and that insurance, Medicaid and Medicare are accepted. Cook County Health says its walk-in STI Screening Clinic takes calls Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and that same-day HIV and STI services are provided. Appointments go through the Access Line at 312-572-4500.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Rogers Park Health Center, 5725 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660, phone (773) 942-7193. The CDC GetTested listing includes the HPV vaccine and says an appointment is required. The listing shows insurance and Medicaid accepted and does not state self-pay or sliding scale fees. The CDC notes that hours can change, so confirm with the center.

Other sexual health care in the city

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) runs Sexual Health Specialty Clinics in Lakeview, Austin and Roseland. CDPH lists STI testing, HIV testing, PrEP and treatment there. It says care is provided regardless of ability to pay or insurance status, and asks insured patients to bring an insurance card. The page does not say whether the visit is free. CDPH asks people to call for an appointment, says limited walk-ins are available and recommends calling the clinic to verify hours. The CDPH sexual health services page has the addresses and phone numbers.

Howard Brown Health runs a walk-in sexual health clinic at its Sheridan, 63rd Street and Broadway Youth Center sites. It describes the walk-in service as low cost and offers a sliding fee program based on income and family size. Its walk-in page does not list the HPV vaccine or cervical screening, so ask when you call 773.388.1600.

The sources for these clinics do not say whether they offer cervical screening, HPV testing or the HPV vaccine beyond what is stated above. Call the clinic or check with the health department before you go. The full list is on the local testing list, and the CDC's tool at gettested.cdc.gov can help you find more sites by ZIP code.

Teens and young adults

Illinois law lets a minor who is 12 or older consent to health care related to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of a sexually transmitted disease, without a parent's consent. This comes from the Illinois Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act (410 ILCS 210/4). The state administrative code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 693.130) restates the age-12 rule and adds vaccination against an STI. Providers are asked to make reasonable efforts to involve family if they believe it will not be harmful. A clinic can explain how this works in practice.

HPV and other STI testing

HPV is not on the standard STI panels that clinics use. Routine STI testing covers other infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV, and those are tested differently.

The IDPH reports that the City of Chicago had a chlamydia rate of 1,023.7 per 100,000 people (27,596 cases) in 2022, and a gonorrhea rate of 459.3 per 100,000 (12,382 cases), using 2010 Census population figures. Those numbers show why regular testing for those infections is a normal part of sexual health care in the city. You can read more in our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Chicago.

If you want to know which tests apply to you and what they cost, our guide on where to get tested for STDs in Chicago and what it costs covers the options.

Questions to bring to a clinician

A short list can make the visit easier:

Which cervical screening option fits my age and history, and when is the next one due?
Have I had the HPV vaccine, and would it help me now?
What should I do about a bump, sore or change I noticed?
Does my history call for any extra screening?
What will this visit cost, and are there sliding scale or self-pay options?

Cost and coverage vary. If a clinic's page does not list a price, call and ask before the visit.

What research suggests so far

Research suggests that population-wide vaccination and regular cervical screening have lowered the rates of cervical precancer in places where both are widely used. The CDC and USPSTF base their advice on that kind of evidence. Research is still ongoing on screening for HPV-related cancers at other sites, which is why recommendations for men and for anal or throat screening are narrower than for the cervix.

Guidance can be updated as new evidence arrives. A clinician can tell you what current recommendations mean for your situation.

Key takeaways

HPV is common, and most infections clear on their own according to the CDC.
HPV symptoms are often absent. Genital warts are the most visible sign of low-risk types.
There is no routine HPV test for men. A clinician can examine any growth and talk through extra options.
USPSTF recommends cervical screening on a schedule that depends on age, from 21 through 65.
The HPV vaccine is recommended by the CDC at age 11 or 12, with catch-up through age 26.
In Chicago, the CORE Center and Planned Parenthood Rogers Park list the HPV vaccine. Call ahead to confirm services, hours and costs.

HPV in Men and Women: Testing, Vaccines and Cervical Screening in Chicago