How Is HPV Transmitted?

What Is HPV?

HPV is the abbreviation for human papillomavirus, which is a sexually-transmitted disease. It's a common virus, and around 20 million Americans are infected with HPV, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are more than 100 different forms of the virus and some of them can cause cervical cancer, says the Mayo Clinic. HPV can also result in warts on the genitals or other parts of your body and can even cause abnormal growths inside the mouth and respiratory tract, says the Mayo Clinic.

Exposure Through Sex

Genital HPV is transmitted from person to person through sexual contact---vaginal or anal intercourse and sometimes through oral sex. Even just touching the genitals of someone infected with genital HPV can transmit the disease, says the Mayo Clinic.

Sores

You can also get HPV by touching any open blister or sore, or if the virus sneaks into your body via a tiny cut, wound or sore in your skin. HPV is most often transmitted from contact through the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic.

During Delivery

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a pregnant woman infected with genital HPV can transmit the infection to her baby during delivery---although this occurs only in rare circumstances. A baby with HPV can suffer from warts that form in the throat, says the CDC.