Can you get rid of HPV?

No cure exists for HPV, but over time, the body often gets rid of the virus on its own, according to WebMD. HPV stands for human papillomavirus, a common sexually transmitted disease. A vaccine can be given to ward off the disease before it is contracted.

If the body fails to eradicate the disease, treatment is available to help with the symptoms, according to WebMD. Symptoms of HPV include genital warts in some low-risk forms of the disease, which typically do not lead to future cancers, and precancerous changes to cells in high-risk cases of HPV. Women with cervical HPV should have frequent pap smears to track cell changes.