Human papillomavirus infection

Human papillomavirus infection
Other namesHuman papillomavirus
The major capsid protein L1 of HPV 11
SpecialtyInfectious disease, gynecology, oncology
SymptomsNone, warts[1][2]
ComplicationsCancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth, tonsils, or throat[1][2] [3]
CausesHuman papillomavirus spread by direct contact[4][5]
Risk factorsSexual contact
PreventionHPV vaccines, condoms[4][6]
FrequencyMost people are infected at some point in time[4]

Human papillomavirus infection (HPV infection) is caused by a DNA virus from the Papillomaviridae family.[5][7][8] Many HPV infections cause no symptoms and 90% resolve spontaneously within two years.[1] Sometimes a HPV infection persists and results in warts or precancerous lesions.[2] All warts are caused by HPV. These lesions, depending on the site affected, increase the risk of cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth, tonsils or throat.[1][2][3] Nearly all cervical cancer is due to HPV and two strains, HPV16 and HPV18, account for 70% of all cases.[1][9] HPV16 is responsible for almost 90% of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers.[3] Between 60% and 90% of the other cancers listed above are also linked to HPV.[9] HPV6 and HPV11 are common causes of genital warts and laryngeal papillomatosis.[1]

Over 200 types of HPV have been described.[10][11] An individual can become infected with more than one type of HPV[12] and the disease is only known to affect humans.[5][13] More than 40 types may be spread through sexual contact and infect the anus and genitals.[4] Risk factors for persistent infection by sexually transmitted types include early age of first sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners, smoking and poor immune function.[1] These types are typically spread by direct skin-to-skin contact, with vaginal and anal sex being the most common methods.[14] HPV infection can spread from a mother to baby during pregnancy.[12] There is limited evidence that HPV can spread indirectly, but some studies suggest it is theoretically possible to spread via contact with contaminated surfaces.[15] HPV is not killed by common hand sanitizers or disinfectants, increasing the possibility of the virus being transferred via non-living infectious agents called fomites.[16]

HPV vaccines can prevent the most common types of infection.[4] Many public health organisations now test directly for HPV.[17][18] Screening allows for early treatment, which results in better outcomes.[1] Nearly every sexually active individual is infected with HPV at some point in their lives.[4] HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), globally.[5]

High-risk HPVs cause about 5% of all cancers worldwide and about 37,300 cases of cancer in the United States each year.[11] Cervical cancer is among the most common cancers worldwide, causing an estimated 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020.[1] About 90% of these new cases and deaths of cervical cancer occurred in low and middle income countries.[1] Roughly 1% of sexually active adults have genital warts.[12]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: The named reference who-cervicalc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Ljubojevic S, Skerlev M (2014). "HPV-associated diseases". Clinics in Dermatology. 32 (2): 227–34. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.08.007. PMID 24559558.
  3. ^ a b c Anjum F, Zohaib J (4 December 2020). "Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma". Definitions (Updated ed.). Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. doi:10.32388/G6TG1L. PMID 33085415. S2CID 229252540. Bookshelf ID: NBK563268. Retrieved 6 February 2021 – via NCBI.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "What is HPV?". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Milner DA (2015). Diagnostic Pathology: Infectious Diseases. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-323-40037-4. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Fact Sheet for Public Health Personnel | Condom Effectiveness". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bzhalava2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Lange S, Son S, Jensen M, Medenblik A, Sullivan J, Basting E, et al. (2024). "HPV (Human Papillomavirus)". Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Springer, Cham. pp. 1–2. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_1137-1. ISBN 978-3-031-08956-5.
  9. ^ a b "The Link Between HPV and Cancer". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 30 September 2015. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  10. ^ "HPV reference clones – International Human Papillomavirus Reference Center". Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference hpv-nci was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b c "Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Questions and Answers". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Pink Book (Human Papillomavirus)" (PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  14. ^ CDC (11 March 2025). "About Genital HPV Infection". Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  15. ^ Ryndock EJ, Meyers C (12 October 2024). "A risk for non-sexual transmission of human papillomavirus?". Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy. 12 (10): 1165–1170. doi:10.1586/14787210.2014.959497. ISSN 1744-8336. PMID 25199987.
  16. ^ Meyers J, Ryndock E, Conway MJ, Meyers C, Robison R (June 2014). "Susceptibility of high-risk human papillomavirus type 16 to clinical disinfectants". J Antimicrob Chemother. 69 (6): 1546–50. doi:10.1093/jac/dku006. PMC 4019329. PMID 24500190.
  17. ^ "NHS Cervical Screening Programme – Good practice guidance for sample takers". GOV.UK. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Human papillomavirus (HPV) test". Canadian Cancer Society. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
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