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 infections passed through sexual contact. The CDC says nearly everyone who is sexually active and unvaccinated will get HPV at some point in their life.

That fact can sound alarming, but most HPV infections cause no problems and clear on their own. This guide explains what the virus is, how HPV in men and HPV in women differ in testing, what research suggests about the vaccine, and where Dallas residents can find screening and vaccination.

It is written for people of every gender and orientation. Anyone who has had skin-to-skin sexual contact can be exposed to HPV.

HPV basics

HPV is not one virus. It is a large family of related viruses. The CDC describes more than 40 types that can infect the genital area, mouth and throat.

It spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex, and through close skin-to-skin genital contact. A person can pass it on without knowing they have it, and without any visible sign.

The CDC says most HPV infections go away on their own within about two years, because the immune system clears them. Some infections last longer. Those lasting infections are the ones linked to health problems.

It is usually not possible to tell when or from whom someone picked up HPV. The virus can stay undetectable for a long time. That is why it is better to think about HPV as a common part of adult life than as a question of blame.

What the virus is made of

The science here is simpler than the name suggests. HPV is a small virus with a ring of DNA inside a protein shell. That shell is built mostly from a protein called L1.

Researchers learned that L1 protein, grown in the lab, can assemble itself into empty shells that look like the real virus but contain no viral DNA. These are called virus-like particles.

The HPV vaccines used in the United States are built on this idea. According to the CDC, the vaccine does not contain live virus, so it cannot cause an HPV infection. It trains the immune system to recognize the shell, so antibodies are ready if the real virus appears.

The current U.S. vaccine covers nine HPV types. That choice reflects which types cause most cancers and most genital warts, which the next section covers.

Warts versus high-risk types

The CDC groups HPV types by what they are linked to, not by how a person behaves.

Low-risk types can cause genital warts. The CDC says types 6 and 11 cause most genital warts. These types are not linked to cancer.
High-risk types can cause cell changes that, if they last for years, may turn into cancer. The CDC names types 16 and 18 among the types behind most cervical cancers.

A person can have a low-risk type, a high-risk type, both or neither. Having warts does not mean a high-risk type is present, and a high-risk type usually causes no warts.

The CDC also links HPV to cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus and the back of the throat. These cancers are uncommon compared with how often HPV itself occurs. The CDC says it can take years, even decades, for cancer to develop after an HPV infection, which is why routine screening has time to catch changes early.

HPV in men

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) note that there is no approved test to check men for HPV as a routine screen. The CDC also says there is no approved HPV test for the mouth and throat.

This is why people ask about HPV in men and find little. It is not that HPV is rare in men. It is that no routine, approved screening test exists for them.

What exists instead is clinical care for problems that show up:

A clinician can examine genital warts and decide how to treat them.
A clinician can evaluate any sore, lump or area that does not heal.
For some groups at higher risk of anal cancer, such as people with HIV, clinicians sometimes discuss anal screening. Whether it fits a given person is a conversation for a clinician.

For men and for anyone with a penis, the CDC says the vaccine is the main tool for lowering the chance of HPV-related disease. Condoms may lower the chance of getting HPV, according to the CDC, but they do not cover all skin that can carry it.

HPV in women

Cervical screening exists for people with a cervix. That includes women, many trans men and nonbinary people. Screening looks for cell changes that could become cervical cancer later. In some cases it also tests for high-risk HPV types.

The result is not a verdict. An abnormal result means a clinician may suggest a closer look. The CDC explains that most cell changes from HPV go away without treatment, and clinicians can watch or treat those that do not.

Screening is sometimes folded into a general exam, but it is a separate test from STI testing. A cervical screening visit does not automatically check for infections such as chlamydia. For those, see our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Dallas and ask for the tests you want.

HPV symptoms

HPV symptoms are often absent. The CDC says most people with HPV have no symptoms, and many never know.

When there are signs, they may include:

Genital warts: small bumps or a cluster of bumps in the genital or anal area. They can be flat, raised or shaped like a cauliflower. They may itch or feel tender, or cause no feeling at all.
Warts elsewhere: HPV types that are different from the genital ones cause common skin warts. These are not the same issue.

Cervical cell changes cause no symptoms. The CDC says that when cervical cancer does cause symptoms, they tend to appear late, and may include unusual bleeding or discharge. Those signs have many other causes, so a clinician is the right person to sort them out.

Only a clinician or a test can say what a bump, a symptom or a result means. If something is new or worrying, a visit is a reasonable step. It is not a reason for shame.

Cervical screening intervals from the USPSTF

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) sets national screening advice for people with a cervix. Its 2018 recommendation is summarized below.

Age group	USPSTF recommendation
Under 21	Screening is not recommended.
21 to 29	Cervical cytology (a Pap test) every 3 years.
30 to 65	Any one of: cytology every 3 years, high-risk HPV testing every 5 years, or both together (cotesting) every 5 years.
Over 65	Screening is not recommended after adequate prior screening and a low risk of cervical cancer.
After a hysterectomy that removed the cervix	Screening is not recommended if there is no history of a high-grade cervical lesion or cervical cancer.

These intervals are for people at average risk. The USPSTF notes that the advice differs for people with certain histories, and the CDC guidelines advise a different approach for people with HIV. A clinician can apply the schedule to a person's own history and records.

Vaccination does not replace screening. Research suggests the vaccine lowers cervical cell changes, but it does not cover every high-risk type, so the USPSTF and CDC advise that vaccinated people follow the same screening schedule.

The vaccine: research, safety and contraindications

What research suggests

The CDC reports that since the vaccine began to be used in 2006, infections with the HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped by about 88 percent among teen girls and 81 percent among young adult women. Research suggests the vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV, which is why it is offered at a young age.

The CDC recommends routine vaccination at age 11 or 12, and it can start as early as age 9. Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26 for anyone not yet vaccinated. For adults aged 27 to 45, the CDC says the choice is made through shared decision-making with a clinician, because fewer people in that age range have not yet been exposed.

The number of shots depends on the age at the first shot and on the person's immune health. A clinician sets the schedule.

Safety profile

The CDC says HPV vaccines have been studied extensively and monitored since they were approved. The common effects are mild and short-lived:

Soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given
Headache, fever or tiredness
Dizziness or fainting, which can happen after any shot, especially in teens

Who should talk to a clinician first

The CDC says the vaccine should not be given to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or to a component of the vaccine. The CDC also says vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy, though it is safe for people who are breastfeeding. Anyone who is moderately or severely ill is usually advised to wait until they recover.

The vaccine does not treat an existing infection or existing warts. It is aimed at preventing new ones.

Screening and vaccination access in Dallas

Several Dallas clinics list HPV vaccination or other services connected to HPV care. Some details come from the CDC GetTested locator rather than from the clinic's own page, so confirm by phone before going.

Sexual Health Clinic, Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS), 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, 1st Floor, Suite 100, (214) 819-1819. The CDC GetTested listing shows HPV vaccine at this clinic. The county page says appointments are required and that people who only want routine testing without symptoms are directed to the DCHHS Mobile Medical Unit. The county page also says the clinic does not do Pap smears, so it is not the place to go for cervical screening.
Martin Luther King Jr Family Clinic (Foremost Family Health Centers), 2922-B MLK Jr Blvd, (214) 426-3645. The CDC GetTested listing shows HPV vaccine, sliding scale fees, and acceptance of insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.
Parkland Health, Southeast Dallas Health Center, 9202 Elam Rd, (214) 266-1600. The CDC GetTested listing shows HPV vaccine, sliding scale fees, and acceptance of insurance and Medicaid.
AHF Healthcare Center, Dallas, 7777 Forest Ln Ste B 122, (972) 383-1060. The CDC GetTested listing shows HPV vaccine and sliding scale fees, and says an appointment is not required.
Neighborhood Medical Center, 5917 Belt Line Rd, (972) 726-6464. The CDC GetTested listing shows HPV vaccine, insurance accepted, sliding scale fees, and no appointment required.
Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Clinic, Children's Health, 2350 N Stemmons Fwy, Ste F5200, (214) 456-9099. The clinic's page lists HPV among the conditions it treats. It says a parent or guardian must give general consent for a minor to be treated there.

Whether each clinic offers Pap tests or high-risk HPV testing is not published in the sources used for this guide. Ask when you call, and ask what the visit costs. None of the clinic pages reviewed list a price for HPV vaccination or cervical screening.

The CDC's Vaccines for Children program may help cover vaccination for eligible children through age 18. Ask a clinic whether a child qualifies.

No Dallas County or Texas HPV rate appears in the state health department reports used for this guide, so this page does not quote one. The Dallas County health department can say what local data it publishes.

The free mailed self-test kit from the Texas Department of State Health Services covers HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia for people aged 13 and older. According to DSHS, it does not include HPV. Details are on the DSHS free at-home testing page.

Quality indicators: what to look for in screening and vaccination

HPV care has no products to shop for. What matters is whether the care follows national guidance. These are reasonable signs of quality:

The clinician explains which test is being done, whether it is cytology, HPV testing or both, and why.
The advice matches USPSTF age ranges and intervals, or the clinician explains why your history differs.
You are told how and when you will get results, and what happens after an abnormal one.
Vaccine records are given to you, so you can track your shots.
Costs, sliding scale options and insurance questions are answered before the visit.

Be cautious of any source that offers to treat HPV itself with a cure. The CDC says there is no cure for the virus, but it is manageable: the immune system often clears it, and clinicians can treat warts and cell changes caused by it.

Questions to bring to a visit

Which HPV vaccine schedule fits my age and health history?
When was my last cervical screening, and when is the next one due?
Does this visit include testing for other infections, or do I need to ask?
If I have a bump or symptom, can it be examined today?
What will this cost, and are there sliding scale options?

Next step

The simplest next step is a call to a clinic. Start with the local clinic list for free and low-cost options, or use the CDC's GetTested locator to find sites by ZIP code. For a broader look at STI testing in the city, including costs, read our guide to STD testing in Dallas.

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