Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. At some point in their lives, about 80% of adults will get an HPV infection. The virus can cause cancers of the genital regions in men and women, as well as cancers of the throat. Cervical cancer is predominantly caused by HPV.
Thanks to the HPV vaccine, these types of cancer are preventable. The vaccine is FDA-approved to be given at age 9 and recommended for preteen boys and girls at age 11 or 12, when it is most effective. The FDA has also approved the vaccine for adults up to age 45.
What is HPV?
HPV is a sexually transmitted virus. It is not transmitted through casual contact. Many different subtypes of the virus exist, and it usually affects the throat or the reproductive tract. Some types of HPV infection cause skin growths. Some types of HPV infection can cause cancer, but not all HPV infections lead to cancer. Most people contract HPV but then clear the virus from their body.
In some people, however, HPV remains in the body, causing genetic changes in tissue that can lead to cancer years later.
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Types of HPV
There are numerous strands of HPV. The virus types can be broken down into 2 categories:
- Nononcogenic (wart-causing) HPV types are low risk.
- Oncogenic (cancer-causing) HPV types are high risk.
Oncogenic HPV types are associated with cancers of the anus, cervix, penis, vagina, vulva and back of the throat including the base of the tongue and tonsils known as oropharyngeal cancer. Cervical cancer is the most common HPV-associated cancer among women. HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers are the most common among men.
HPV symptoms and risks
Most people infected with HPV don’t realize they have the virus. Usually, your body’s immune system will defeat the HPV infection within 2 years on its own. This applies to both oncogenic (cancer-causing) and nononcogenic (wart-causing) HPV strands.
Sometimes the body’s immune system does not defeat the HPV virus before warts occur. When symptoms do arise, the most common sign of the virus is warts. Different types of warts are caused by different strains of the virus. They may appear any time after infection – from weeks to years.
Genital warts are the most common type. Like all forms of HPV, genital warts are contagious and:
- Can look like small, smooth bumps or they can be textured lesions. Sometimes they are too small to be seen.
- May cause itching or discomfort. There can also be bleeding with intercourse.
- In women, most-often appear on the vulva but can also occur near the anus, on the cervix or in the vagina.
- In men, occur on the penis, scrotum or near the anus.
Other HPV strains can cause warts on other parts of your body. These wart types include:
- Common warts (rough, raised bumps) that appear on your hands and fingers.
- Flat warts (slight raised sores with a flat top) found anywhere on your body.
- Plantar warts (hard, rough bumps that can grow in clusters) usually found on your heels or balls of your feet.
Oncogenic HPV types put you at risk for cancer. Often, symptoms do not occur until cell changes have advanced to cancer. It is important to note that the HPV types that cause warts do not cause cancer.
There are 13 HPV types that can cause cervical cancer, and at least one of these types can cause cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus and certain head and neck cancers (specifically, the oropharynx, which includes the back of the throat, base of the tongue and tonsils).
According to the Centers for Disease Control, HPV is thought to be responsible for:
- More than 90% of anal and cervical cancers
- Roughly 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers
- 60% of penile cancers
- 60-70% oropharynx cancers
The most-common HPV-associated cancers are cervical cancer in women and oropharyngeal cancers in men.
HPV diagnosis and screening
The HPV test looks at cells taken from your cervix. (The cervix is the lower part of the female reproductive system that connects the uterus to the vagina.) In some cases, cells can be collected from your vagina or anus. Cervix cell samples may be collected at the same time as your Pap smear also known as a Pap test.
A member of your healthcare team may recommend an HPV test if:
- Your Pap smear results are inconclusive.
- You are over age 30.
- You have had an atypical cancer screening.
Cervical cancer may take 20-plus years after an HPV infection to develop. Symptoms do not occur with early cervical cancer, which makes regular screening crucial. Pap smears can detect changes in the cervix that could progress to cancer. Learn more about Pap smears and current guidelines.
HPV treatment
There is no cure for HPV. In non-oncogenic (wart-causing) HPV types, treatment can include removing the warts or topical medication. In oncogenic (cancer-causing) HPV types, regular screening is recommended. Vaccination against HPV is the best protection against infection.
Leading research and clinical trials
As part of one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, our care providers are committed to research and scientific discovery through the University of Kansas Medical Center. We can often include our patients in potentially lifesaving clinical trials and treatment options not available anywhere else.