Use of birth control pills and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV)
Women who use birth control pills may be more likely to get genital warts than women who do not.
The reasons for the connection between birth control pills and genital warts are not known. However, experts have several theories about the connection.
- Women who use birth control pills are less likely than other women to use barrier methods of contraception—such as a condom or a diaphragm—because they do not need additional protection against becoming pregnant.
- Women who use birth control pills have more sex partners on average than women who do not use birth control pills. Having many sex partners increases the chance of becoming infected with HPV.
- Birth control pills may alter the genital environment and allow an HPV infection to become established more easily.
For sexually active people, condoms are the best means of reducing the risk of HPV infection, spread, and reinfection. However, condoms do not provide complete protection.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: August 17, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease | |
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