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If you’ve just found out you have HPV and you’re pregnant (or trying to be), your mind’s probably racing. Can you still get pregnant with HPV? Can it hurt the baby? What if your partner has HPV?
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) in the world for women of reproductive age — but men can get HPV too. HPV during pregnancy can sometimes lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm premature rupture or intrauterine growth restriction.
Let’s break it all down — what HPV is, how it shows up in pregnancy, what it means for fertility, and how to manage it without losing sleep.
Key Takeaways
- HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world.
- Most HPV infections are asymptomatic.
- HPV can show up more during pregnancy, but it is usually manageable.
- High-risk HPV infections can increase the risk of preterm labor, smaller babies, premature rupture of membranes, and pregnancy-related complications like high blood pressure.
- Most cases of HPV don’t need treatment during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor to monitor HPV during pregnancy.
- Most babies born to HPV-positive moms are healthy.
- You can get pregnant with HPV — though it might impact fertility in some couples.
- Getting HPV vaccines early and having regular screenings are the best ways to prevent it.
So, What Is HPV Exactly?
Human papillomavirus infection (HPV) is really common — it’s actually the most common sexually transmitted infection out there, and most people don’t even know they have it.
There are 200+ types of HPV, but here’s the gist:
Low-risk HPV
These types of HPV can cause lesions like genital warts and papillomas (non-cancerous cauliflower-like lesions).
High-risk HPV
These types of HPV can lead to more serious stuff, like cervical cancer.
Wondering how you get HPV? It spreads mostly through skin-to-skin contact. It can even pass from mom to baby during birth (called HPV transmission) — though that’s not super common.
Do You Always Know You Have It?
Not really. Most HPV infections are asymptomatic — they don’t cause any symptoms. That’s part of what makes it so sneaky.
If symptoms do show up, they might look like:
- Genital warts (itchy or annoying skin growths, but aren’t dangerous)
- Warts in other areas like your mouth or feet
- Cervical tissue changes only seen through Pap smears (linked to high-risk HPV)
So most people wouldn’t even know they had HPV unless they got tested.
How Does HPV Affect Pregnancy?
Here’s where things get interesting. Pregnant women are more likely to get HPV, mainly because pregnancy changes how your immune system and hormones work. In fact, studies have shown that up to 82% of pregnant women can have HPV, compared to just around 10% of those who aren’t.
This could be due to the way your body changes during pregnancy. Also, pregnant women are more likely to seek medical care and get checkups more regularly, so it’s possible that the infection is caught more often than in non-pregnant women.
It’s not all doom and gloom though — many women with HPV go on to have totally healthy pregnancies without complications. Still, understanding the risks is smart, especially when dealing with maternal human papillomavirus infection.
Certain types of HPV might be linked to higher chances of:
- Preterm labor
- Small babies (SGA)
- C-sections
- Preterm premature rupture (your water breaking too early)
- Pregnancy complications like high blood pressure
These could be due to various reasons, such as the virus messing with the environment inside the uterus, affecting the cells around the baby, causing inflammation, or causing the placenta to not work as well as it should.
One study found that certain types of HPV during pregnancy were linked to some not-so-great outcomes for both mom and baby. The most common types they found were HPV 52, 16, 58, 42, and 51.
When the infection involved high-risk HPV types that are covered by the HPV vaccine (like 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58), there was a greater chance of your water breaking too early (that’s called preterm premature rupture of membranes or PPROM) and needing a C-section.
Things looked a little more complicated for women with high-risk HPV types — both ones that are covered by the vaccine and those that aren’t. In those cases, the chances of C-sections or high blood pressure during pregnancy went up.
Another big study backed this up, showing similar patterns of risk associated with HPV detection during pregnancy.
As for miscarriage or stillbirth, we just don’t know yet. There’s not enough research to say for sure.
Can HPV Be Passed to the Baby?
It’s rare, but yes — HPV can be transmitted to the baby during delivery.
About 6.5% of babies might get the virus. And even if that happens, most of the time their little immune system takes care of it. If you have genital warts during pregnancy, it’s still very unlikely that your baby will have any HPV-related complications.
Worst-case (and super rare) scenario? A condition called respiratory papillomatosis — where warts grow in the baby’s throat and affect breathing. It sounds scary, but it’s incredibly uncommon.
So to answer the question, “Can HPV affect my baby?” — the answer is, it’s unlikely, but your doctor will keep a close eye on things just in case.
Can You Get Pregnant With HPV?
Totally. Having HPV doesn’t mean you can’t have kids. But let’s break it down.
For women
The link between HPV and infertility is kinda fuzzy. Some studies say it might interfere with implantation — especially during procedures like IUI (intrauterine insemination). But more research is needed.
One study showed that HPV-positive women were six times less likely to get pregnant after IUI than women without HPV (1.87% vs. 11.36%).
For men
This is where things get clearer. If your partner has HPV, it might affect sperm quality and lead to things like:
- Slower sperm
- Abnormally-shaped sperm
- Sperm that carry the virus and impact embryo development
HPV infection in sperm may also increase the risk of developing anti-sperm antibodies, making it harder for fertilization to happen.
Some studies even suggest that HPV-infected sperm can pass viral DNA to eggs, which might lead to miscarriage or reduced pregnancy success — especially during assisted methods like IUI.
So if you’ve ever googled “My husband has HPV and we want to have a baby” — you’re definitely not alone.
How To Manage Your Pregnancy With HPV
First off — take a deep breath. Experts say the risk of HPV transmission to your baby is really low. And most of the time, HPV is totally manageable, and you can continue with your routine pregnancy appointments.
But if you’ve been diagnosed with HPV, let your doctor know. This includes a history of genital warts, abnormal Pap smears, or treatments involving your cervical tissue.
You should also stay on track with your cervical cancer screening schedule (Pap smears + HPV detection tests), based on your age and risk.
Here’s what managing HPV in pregnancy usually looks like:
Scenario | What to do |
Asymptomatic HPV | Routine prenatal care, continue screening |
Genital warts | Treat if symptomatic or obstructive |
High-risk lesion | Colposcopy/biopsy is safe in pregnancy; excision usually delayed |
HPV vaccination | Not recommended during pregnancy |
Delivery plan | Vaginal unless blocked by lesions |
Postpartum | Full evaluation and treatment if needed |
Can HPV Infections Be Prevented?
Yes! Two big steps:
1. Get the HPV vaccine before you try to get pregnant
Vaccines like Gardasil 9 protect against most high-risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. It’s approved for people ages 9 to 45.
Early HPV vaccination (around ages 9–12) offers the best protection.
2. Safer sex + HPV screenings
Use condoms, limit partners, avoid sex with people who have multiple partners, and undergo regular screenings.
While the HPV vaccine won’t treat existing infections, it can prevent future ones — and that’s a huge deal.
Final Thoughts: HPV and Pregnancy — What Now?
Finding out you have HPV while pregnant — or while trying to get pregnant — can feel overwhelming. But here’s the truth: you’re not alone, and you have options.
Yes, human papillomavirus infection can sometimes lead to obstetric complications or affect fertility — but many people with genital HPV still have healthy pregnancies.
Whether you’re trying to conceive, already expecting, or your partner has HPV, don’t panic. Staying on top of your cervical cancer screening, talking to your doctor, and making informed choices about HPV vaccination can make a big difference.
The HPV vaccine helps prevent genital warts, cervical cancer, and other issues linked to HPV transmission — and while it doesn’t treat existing infections, it protects against future ones.
Remember, you’re not alone in this. With the right care and support, a healthy pregnancy is absolutely possible.
FAQs
There’s no solid proof. Some studies suggest a possible link, but nothing has been confirmed. More research is needed.
There’s no cure for HPV— but most infections usually clear on their own. Treatment during pregnancy is only done if symptoms are serious.
Not always. It depends on your age and past results. If you’re due for a Pap smear or HPV test, you’ll usually still do it during pregnancy.
Was this article helpful?
Human Papillomavirus Infection during Pregnancy and Childhood: A Comprehensive Review – PMC
Evidence for Vertical Transmission of HPV from Mothers to Infants – PMC
Human Papillomavirus Infection, Infertility, and Assisted Reproductive Outcomes – PMC
Papillomavirus infection and male infertility: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Is HPV the Novel Target in Male Idiopathic Infertility? A Systematic Review of the Literature
Updated Guidelines for Management of Cervical Cancer Screening Abnormalities | ACOG
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection – STI Treatment Guidelines
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