Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. It affects about 13 million people each year. In fact, HPV is so common that most sexually active people will get the virus in their lifetime. People of any gender can get HPV.

There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some types are harmless and go away on their own. Others cause warts (papillomas) on your body or genitals.

A few high-risk HPV strains lead to cancer. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer and increases your risk for other cancers, including:

• Anal cancer
• Oropharyngeal cancer (back of throat and tonsils)
• Penile cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Vulvar cancer

The HPV vaccine prevents nearly 90% of HPV-related cancers. The vaccine is most effective before someone is sexually active and exposed to the virus. This is why it is recommended for adolescents between the ages of 11 and 12.  

HPV doesn't usually cause symptoms, which is why many people don’t know they have it. Sometimes the infection can lead to genital warts. Warts may look like whitish clusters of bumps on your genitals.

Symptoms of HPV-Related Cancers

Signs that HPV has become cancer may include:

• Abnormal discharge or blood from your vagina or penis
• Itchy genitals
• Lumps in your genitals, neck or throat
• Painful sores on your genitals
• Persistent sore throat or cough
• Skin changes on your penis or vulva

HPV is an infection spread through sexual contact. You can spread HPV during oral, vaginal or anal sex, even if you don’t have symptoms.

There doesn’t necessarily have to be intercourse or ejaculation to transmit HPV. Any type of skin-to-skin genital contact with someone who has the virus puts you at risk.

HPV can cause cancer by changing how cells communicate and behave. Conditions such as cervical dysplasia or anal dysplasia are precancers, meaning abnormal cells are present. When treated early, precancerous cells may not turn into cancer.

You are at a higher risk for HPV if you have any of the following risk factors.

Your healthcare provider may suspect HPV if you have genital warts. An HPV test is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Current screening guidelines recommend that women between the ages of 30 and 65 have an HPV test or HPV/Pap co-test every five years. There are currently no tests or screening guidelines for HPV in men.

For women, the test is part of routine cervical cancer screening. Your health care provider does the test at the same time as a Pap test.

An HPV test examines a sample of cells from your cervix for genetic material from the virus. A positive HPV test does not mean you have cancer.

If you test positive for HPV, your provider may order additional tests. A colposcopy is a procedure to examine your cervix for dysplasia or other abnormalities.

During the procedure, we may take a sample of tissue from your cervix for a biopsy. A biopsy can determine if you have precancer or cancer.

There is no cure for HPV, but your provider can recommend treatment based on your test results and the type of HPV you have. Low-risk HPV usually clears up on its own within a few years. High-risk HPV requires monitoring and possibly treatment.

You can reduce your risk of human papillomavirus and HPV-related cancers.