It can be scary to learn that you are dating someone with human papillomavirus (HPV). You may worry about getting infected or have heard that people with HPV can develop cancer. Many people with HPV never have symptoms, leaving you to wonder if you may have already been infected. All of these are reasonable concerns.

What do I do if my girlfriend has HPV?

The only real way to keep you or your partner protected against an HPV infection is to abstain from sexual contact. Thats rarely ideal or even realistic in most relationships, though. If you or your partner has a high-risk strain, you may need to discuss your options with your doctor.

Can I keep getting HPV from the same partner?

In theory, if you and your partner have been infected with one type of HPV, you should now be immune to that type. This means you should not get it again. However, studies have shown that natural immunity to HPV is poor and you can be reinfected with the same HPV type.