Overview of HPV

What is HPV?

The Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common family of viruses. HPV is also the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world today. Chances are you will contract some form of the HPV virus in your lifetime and not have any signs or symptoms. In fact, chances are you will have no problems at all from the HPV virus.

But you need to know that some types of the HPV virus are considered "low risk" and can cause genital and anal warts. Other types are considered "high risk" and can cause pre-cancerous lesions and cancer in the cervix, anus and other genital areas.

Is there more than one type of HPV?

There are over 100 different types of the HPV virus. Most types are totally harmless, cause no signs or symptoms and actually clear up by themselves.

Over 30 other types of the HPV virus are sexually transmitted and affect the area on or between the genitals and the anus. Some low risk types of the HPV virus can cause common skin warts and plantar warts (warts on the soles of the feet). There are 13 high risk types of HPV (such as type 16 and type 18) that can cause pre-cancerous lesions, cervical cancer as well as anal cancer and other genital cancers

How is HPV spread?

The HPV virus can infect anyone who has ever had a sexual encounter even without penetration. The most common transmission is by skin-to-skin contact with the penis, scrotum, vagina, vulva, or anus of an infected person. Kissing or touching a partner's genitals with the mouth can also transmit the HPV virus.

Using a condom is an excellent protection of all sexually transmitted infections. The fact is that condoms cannot cover all the skin surfaces around the genitals and the anus, and therefore does not guarantee complete protection against HPV.

HPV is not related to HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus, which can cause AIDS). However, people with HIV have weakened immune systems and are therefore likely to be infected with various germs, including one or more types of HPV.