The HPV infection itself is not treatable with any antibiotics or antiviral medications. The best way to avoid the infection is through prevention. Complete lifelong abstinence is a sure way to avoid genital warts and cervical cancer. Studies have shown that cervical cancer is extremely rare among nuns.

While genital warts are not fatal, they can still be debilitating. Genital warts can be painful, and the growth can become quite large without treatment. The warts look like cauliflower in the genital area in both men and women. No effective treatment is currently available to prevent the recurrence of the warts, and the treatment itself is painful. Most commonly, an acid is used to cause a chemical burn to destroy the wart. Alternatively, a freezing agent (most commonly liquid nitrogen) can be used to cause localized frostbite to the wart to get rid of the lesion.

Cervical cancer, on the other hand, is treatable with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. While these treatment options may not be pleasant, they often offer good results with the possibility of a cure. The earlier cervical cancer is detected, the better the prognosis. It is extremely important for all women to get an annual Pap smear screening. The only group of people who don't require screening are those who never had any sexual contact and never plan to do so. Monogamy, contrary to common belief, does not protect you from HPV infection.