What is HPV?

Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, according to the CDC. So common, in fact, that almost all sexually active men and women will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives.

HPV is a different virus than HIV and herpes simplex virus (HSV) and there are various HPV types including 6, 11, 16 and 18.

HPV is transmitted via vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who is infected with the virus. The virus is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex, but can be transmitted even when an infected person presents with no signs or symptoms. A person may develop symptoms years after having sex with someone infected with HPV, making it hard to know when they first became infected.

Although some HPV types may cause genital warts and cancers, there are vaccines to prevent these health problems from occurring — Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline) and Gardasil (Merck).

While HPV will go away on its own in many cases and does not cause any health problems, when HPV does not go away, it may cause genital warts and cancer. The types of HPV that cause genital warts are not the same as the types that cause cancers.

Genital warts may appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area and can be small or large, raised or flat or appear in a cauliflower shape. Cancers caused by HPV include cervical cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis or anus. HPV may also cause oropharyngeal cancer. However, cancer may take years or decades to develop after a person becomes infected with HPV.

Additional information may be found at these websites:

http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/infectiousagents/hpv/humanpapillomavirusandhpvvaccinesfaq/hpv-faq-what-is-hpv

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Genital_Warts/hic_Understanding_HPV