HPV
Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection caused by the human papillomavirus. There are more than 100 types of HPV, some can cause warts, and some can cause different types of cancer.
Statistics
According to the CDC, there were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018, and many people were in their late teens and early 20s. Genital warts caused by HPV affected roughly 340,000 to 360,000 people yearly. About one in 100 sexually active adults in the U.S. has genital warts at any given time. Every year, nearly 12,000 women living in the U.S. will have cervical cancer. More than 4,000 women die from cervical cancer even with screening and treatment.
Symptoms
In most cases, HPV goes away on its own. People who are infected with HPV may not experience any symptoms and they never know they were infected. Certain types of HPV can also cause cancer of the cervix, anus, penis, or throat. These types of HPV are known as high-risk HPV, and they can cause abnormal changes in the cells of the affected area. In most cases, these changes do not cause any symptoms, but they can be detected through regular screening tests. Genital warts are small, raised bumps that appear on the skin around the genitals or anus. They can be flat or raised, and they may be flesh-colored or slightly darker than the surrounding skin. Genital warts are usually painless, but they can be itchy, and they can cause discomfort during sexual activity.
Treatment
There is no cure for HPV, but the symptoms can be managed through various treatments. Genital warts can be removed through cryotherapy (freezing), surgery, or medication. It is important to note that the removal of genital warts does not eliminate the virus from the body, and the warts may reappear in the future. For those with high-risk HPV, regular screenings and monitoring are recommended to detect any abnormal changes in the affected area. If abnormal cells are detected, they may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Prevention
The best way to prevent HPV is to practice safer sex. This means using condoms correctly and consistently during all sexual activity. It is also recommended that individuals receive the HPV vaccine, which is a series of two or three shots that can protect against certain types of HPV that can cause cancer and genital warts. The HPV vaccine is recommended for both males and females between the ages of 9 and 45. The vaccine is most effective when given before the onset of sexual activity, but it can still be effective in those who have already been sexually active.
Sources
- Written by Love Hurts, Inc. (Medically reviewed by Kecia Gaither, MD on November 1, 2025)
- CDC: “Genital HPV Infection -- CDC Fact Sheet.”
- Mayo Clinic: “HPV Infection”
- WebMD: “HPV”
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