Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is transferred through skin-to-skin contact. There are more than 40 different strains of HPV, some of which can cause cancer. The Mayo Clinic states there are more than 100 HPV types. Various strains can infect the genital area, and the mouth and throat. Many people do not know they have HPV, and in 90 percent of people, the body's immune system clears HPV within two years of infection, according to the CDC.
Genital Warts and Other Types of Warts
Some strains of HPV can cause genital warts. These warts usually appear in flat or raised clusters in the genital area, and can be transmitted even if you do not show visible signs of genital warts, according to the CDC. After contact with an infected individual, warts can appear weeks to months later. Genital warts will not turn into cancer. At any given time, the CDC estimates that approximately 1 percent of individuals in the United States who are sexually active have genital warts.
HPV can also cause warts and lesions to develop on the tongue, tonsils, larynx and in your nose. These warts may be low-risk ones, that do not turn into cancer, or they may be due to the high-risk types of HPV, that have the potential to turn cancerous.
Cancer
Some strains of HPV can lead to cervical cancer, which typically does not have noticeable symptoms until it is advanced, according to the CDC. Pap tests screen for cervical changes and cancer, which is why it is important for sexually active women to have regular pap tests. HPV can also cause cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, head and neck, according to the CDC.
Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis
Another disease that can be caused by HPV is recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) according to the CDC. RRP causes warts in the throat, which cause breathing difficulties or a hoarse voice. It is generally treated with surgery or medications. If a woman has HPV during childbirth, her child can be born with RRP. This condition is rare, and the CDC estimates that only about 2,000 children in the United States develop the disease each year. Having a Cesarean delivery has not been shown to prevent transmission, and is not recommended for women with HPV.
