It can be very scary to learn that you are dating someone with HPV. You may hear their diagnosis and think of the possibility of cancer. You may even worry how the cancer could affect you. However, HPV is extremely common. Most people with the virus never go on to develop cancer.
In fact, many never have symptoms at all. When people do develop HPV-related cancers, they are usually extremely treatable.
When caught early, treatment may simply involve removal of affected tissue. There is also data that oral cancers associated with HPV infection are more susceptible to radiation than similar tumors with other causes.
Therefore, if you’ve just learned that you are dating someone with HPV, don’t panic. It may not change your life much at all.
Here are answers to some questions people have when they learn they are dating someone with HPV.