HPV infection

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes Risk factors

When to seek medical advice Screening and diagnosis Treatment Prevention

Introduction

HPV infection is a condition contracted from one of a group of more than 100 related human papillomaviruses (HPVs).

Each type of HPV has the potential to cause an abnormal growth on a particular part of your body — genital warts and other lesions on or near your genitals or anus, common warts on your hands, plantar warts on your feet, and warts and other lesions in your mouth and upper respiratory system.

HPV infections are common. It's estimated that close to 25 million people in the United States have HPV infections that can cause genital warts and related lesions.

Some types of HPV infection can cause cancer of the cervix, the narrow outlet of the uterus. Other HPV infections may cause other cancers of the genitals, anus, mouth or throat. However, not all infections with these dangerous types lead to cancer.

Treatments for HPV infections primarily focus on the removal of warts or lesions that cause embarrassment or discomfort and the removal of lesions that pose a risk of developing into cancerous (malignant) growths. A vaccine may prevent the most common types of HPV infection associated with either genital warts or cervical cancer.

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Signs and symptoms