Human papilloma virus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus. The virus is extremely common, affecting 80% of all men and 80% of all women at least once in their lifetime (by the age of 50). HPV is the most sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV is important because certain types of high-risk HPV cause certain kinds of cancer including cancer of the cervix and some cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis and throat (associated with oral sex). Certain types of HPV (low-risk types) can cause genital warts. The types of HPV that cause 90% of genital warts (HPV types 6 and 11) and 70% of cancer of the cervix can be prevented with HPV vaccine as long as it is given before someone is infected.