Why do people say HPV “is no big deal”?

[WGN2017]

There is conflicting information online regarding the ability to have unprotected sex after genital warts have been removed. I was diagnosed with genital warts over a year ago. After prescription creams and home remedies failed, I had them burned off with acid. That worked and they didn’t return, however my partner of 8 years still contracted anal warts either from unprotected sex we had before I realized I had the warts or from unprotected sex we had after the warts were removed. He had to have invasive surgery under general anathesia to remove them...it was a terrible and traumatic experience. Because he has read that there is no way to know if the virus still lingers after the warts are gone, he has said he will never have unprotected sex with me again. That is devastating to me that I will never again be able to have that level of intimacy with my partner. For me, unprotected sex is one of the most intimate acts and greatest benefits of a long term committed relationship. But it’s not fair to put my partner through that awful surgery again.

HPV has caused me tons of distress, it has driven a wedge in my relationship, it has cost me and my partner thousands of dollars in medical costs, and it all-around has significantly decreased my quality of life more than any other medical condition I've ever had. But people on the internet are climbing over each other to declare that "it's no big deal". Yes it definitely is...and the medical community doesn’t seem to be doing much about it.

[Lox1988]

I don't know if the drug companies would. It just doesn't make sense to me why they aren't doing more. I mean... The majority of them are there to make profit.

Hpv is so ridiculously common and whether wart or cancer causing, I'm sure the average Joe would pay thousands for a cure. It's worth Billions.

[veryworried420]

Its because not enough people are dying from the high risk strains. The low risk strains are just "cosmetic" from a doctor's perspective unless you get interior anal warts or warts in your throat. It is a silent epidemic.

Other than never kissing anyone or never having sex with anyone, those that are too old to get the vaccine will eventually get it or probably already have it.

What doesn't exist?

1. A blood test for men who have it. Men are often carriers.
2. An FDA approved test for oral HPV
3. A vaccine for those above 26 to prevent getting more strains than the ones that older people have.
4. A test to know if you are infectious or not.  Many women get procedures don't to remove the active cells but if the virus remains forever, how do women know if they are safe to have sex or kiss someone after recovery?  
5. Some way to get rid of the virus from a body.
6. Why some people get infectious again years or decades after they have it. Even those who are in monogamous relationships.

The drug companies could make billions if they treated it like the medical epidemic it is. They are trying but they need to accelerate things. When more people die from it, there will be more shouts for the above.