Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a very common group of viruses. They do not cause any problems in most people, but some types can cause various types of infections and illnesses, including genital warts and cervical cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States and can be spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Some strains of HPV can cause warts on or around the genital or anal area, while others can cause abnormal cell growth in the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. HPV can infect anyone regardless of their sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The virus functions silently, most people infected with HPV show no symptoms.
HPV infection passes easily between sexual partners. It can be transmitted through any intimate skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal–penile sex, penile–anal sex, penile–oral sex, vaginal–oral sex, and use of sex toys or other objects. Condoms and dental dams can lower the chance of HPV transmission but do not prevent it completely. You do not have to have sexual contact with a lot of people to get HPV. You can get HPV the first time you have sex.
There are vaccines available to protect against certain types of HPV that are most commonly associated with cervical cancer and other types of cancer. Regular cervical cancer screenings, such as HPV DNA tests, can also help detect and prevent cervical cancer caused by HPV. Most HPV infections don’t cause cancer: Your immune system usually controls HPV infections so they don’t cause cancer. HPV vaccines can prevent infection with disease causing HPV types, preventing many HPV-related cancers and cases of genital warts.
