HPV vs. HIV: What's the difference?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus virus (HPV) infections share a few similarities. For example, they can both be sexually transmitted. But these viral infections have some core differences in their clinical features and treatment methods.

Knowing which is affecting you is important to receive the correct treatment.

HPV

Human papillomavirus virus (HPV) is a virus transmitted sexually or occasionally through skin-to-skin contact. There are over 100 subtypes of HPV, and approximately 42 million Americans have a type of HPV infection. HPV is responsible for most cases of anal and genital warts.

It’s very common. About 80% of people will experience HPV infection at some point in their lives. Your immune system generally fights the virus itself, sometimes before you even know you have it. But sometimes, it can cause precancerous cells, meaning your cells are likely to turn into a form of cancer if left untreated.

Most cases of cervical cancer are related to HPV infections. As most cases of HPV are asymptomatic, clinical screening is essential for people who may be at risk.

Women and people assigned female at birth are recommended to undergo regular cervical screenings (also known as a smear test, Pap smear, or Pap test). This checks for HPV in the cells of the cervix or abnormal changes in cells that indicate cervical cancer is likely to develop.

Causes

HPV infection typically occurs due to vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom or other barrier method. It may also sometimes happen through skin contact with someone carrying the virus.

Here are other possible risk factors for HPV infection:

• early age of onset of sexual intercourse
• multiple sexual partners
• smoking
• use of oral contraceptives for longer than 5 years

Symptoms

HPV infection may not be visible in most individuals. When visible, the symptoms of HPV can vary for each person and depend on which part of your body is affected.

Generally, symptomatic cases of HPV infection present as a painless lump in a specific area of the body. Here are some possible locations:

• genital regions such as the vagina or penis
• anus
• hands and fingers
• legs
• feet

The lumps in the genital area typically present as a genital wart with a cauliflower-like appearance.

Treatment

There are various treatment options for HPV infection. Generally, most work by irritating the affected area and triggering a local immune response. Your immune response attracts white blood cells to the site to fight infected cells.

Here are some of the standard treatments:

• Surgery: This involves surgical removal of the infected tissue.
• Cryotherapy: This method involves freezing the infected tissue, which results in cell death.
• Immunomodulating medications: These are medications that irritate the tissues and stimulate a local immune response. Examples include imiquimod (Zyclara) and podofilox (Condylox).
• Laser therapy: This involves using a laser to remove the wart growths.

If you need help covering the cost of medications, Optum Perks’ free Discount Card could help you get up to 80% off prescription medication. See how much you can save on your medication here.

Prevention

Vaccination is used to reduce the incidence of HPV infection. It’s usually recommended for adolescents before they are likely to be exposed to the virus, usually at age 11 or 12, but it can be given from age 9.

Gardasil 9 is one example of an HPV vaccine that protects against several forms of the virus.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that affects your immune system and lowers your body’s ability to fight against infectious organisms like viruses or bacteria.

HIV attacks CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell that regulates your body’s immune system response.

According to a 2019 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were approximately 34,800 new HIV infections in the United States that year. The estimated rate of HIV infections in the United States was 12.6 per 100,000 people in 2019.

Causes

HIV infection can be transmitted in various ways. Here are some of the common ones:

• contact with infected body fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal or rectal fluids
• blood transfusion
• transmission during birth
• sharing needles

Symptoms

HIV symptoms depend on the stage of the disease. In the early phase, it is typically asymptomatic. But as your immune system becomes compromised, non-specific symptoms like the following may manifest:

• chills
• sore throat
• mouth ulcers
• enlarged lymph nodes
• fever
• fatigue
• muscle aches
• skin rash

These symptoms may take a few days or weeks to show, which varies for each person.

If the HIV infection is left untreated, it will likely progress into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). With HIV and AIDS, your immune system is very weak, so you have much lower defenses against various infections.

For example, individuals with AIDS are likely to develop several bacterial, fungal, and viral opportunistic infections depending on how weakened their immune system is.

Treatment

HIV treatment involves using a combination of a type of antiviral medication called antiretrovirals. This treatment method is known as antiretroviral therapy. These medications stop the virus from replicating in your body.

Examples of common classes of antiretrovirals include: 

• reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) like abacavir (Ziagen), stavudine (Zerit), and nevirapine (Viramune)
• protease inhibitors like darunavir (Prezista) and atazanavir (Reyataz)
• fusion inhibitors like enfuvirtide (Fuzeon)
• integrase inhibitors like bictegravir (Biktarvy) and elvitegravir (Vitekta)

These antiretrovirals have different ways of suppressing viral multiplication. You’re likely to be prescribed several of these at once.

Prevention

For people who are HIV-negative but might be at risk of coming into contact with the virus, there is a treatment known as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). According to the CDC, PrEP can lower the risk of getting sexually transmitted HIV by 99%.

The two approved PrEP medications are Truvada and Descovy.

Key differences between HPV and HIV

HIV and HPV have some similarities, but they have certain key differences.

HIV usually attacks CD4 T-cells, which results in immunosuppression. In contrast, HPV does not attack the immune cells directly.

The two viruses cause different symptoms. Notably, HPV causes genital warts, while HIV doesn’t.

Antiretrovirals are the mainstay for HIV infection, but HPV infection has different treatment methods, including immunomodulator drugs or surgery.

Does HPV turn into HIV?

HPV and HIV are two entirely different viruses. Both viruses have unique cellular structures, modes of transmission, and clinical features. Therefore, it is not likely that HPV can turn into HIV.

Summary

Both HIV and HPV can be sexually transmitted through contact with sexual fluids like semen or vaginal fluid.

People with HPV infection may be asymptomatic in the early phase. In some people, it presents as a painless swelling in regions such as the genitals or skin.

Most people with HIV infection are also typically asymptomatic at first, but as the immune system function worsens, the person may develop non-specific symptoms such as ulcers, sore throat, and fever.

Both HPV and HIV infections require early diagnosis and prompt treatment. You should contact a doctor for clinical evaluation if you have any symptoms of either HPV or HIV infection.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.