Human papillomavirus

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

A strain of papillomavirus that can infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans. Commonly abbreviated as HPV, it is a common virus that can lead to 6 types of cancers later in life.

Incidence[edit | edit source]

HPV infections are so common that nearly all men and women will get HPV at some point in their lives. Nearly 80 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. About 14 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year. Every year in the United States, HPV is estimated to cause nearly 36,000 cases of cancer in men and women.

Transmission[edit | edit source]

HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. Some HPV infections can lead to cancer

Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

Most HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away by themselves within 2 years. But sometimes, HPV infections will last longer and can cause certain types of cancers. HPV infections can cause cancers of the:

  • cervix, vagina, and vulva in women;
  • penis in men; and
  • anus and back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both women and men.

Prevention[edit | edit source]

CDC recommends children get two doses of HPV vaccine at ages 11–12 years. HPV vaccination can be started at age 9 years. For HPV vaccine to be most effective, the series should be given before children are ever exposed to the virus.

Human papillomavirus Resources

Find a healthcare provider anywhere in the world quickly and easily!

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

WikiMD.png


WikiMD is the world's largest, free medical and wellness encyclopedia edited only by professionals. Advertise!



Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD, Dr.T