Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
A group of very common viruses spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact; persistent high-risk types can cause several cancers, while other types cause genital warts.
What causes Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
HPV infection is caused by human papillomaviruses. More than 200 types exist. Infection spreads mainly through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and other intimate skin contact.
Symptoms and what to notice
Most infections cause no symptoms and clear naturally. Some low-risk types cause genital warts. Persistent high-risk infection can cause precancerous changes and cancers of the cervix, anus, penis, vulva, vagina, or oropharynx.
How long can it last?
Most new infections become undetectable within one to two years. Persistent infection can last for years and may cause precancer or cancer after a long interval. Warts may resolve, persist, or recur after treatment.
How serious is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
Persistent oncogenic HPV is responsible for nearly all cervical cancers and many anal, penile, vulvar, vaginal, and oropharyngeal cancers. Precancer often causes no symptoms, making vaccination and recommended screening important.
Treatment and management
There is no medicine that eradicates HPV itself. Clinicians treat genital warts, precancerous lesions, and cancers using topical medicines, procedures, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other cancer therapy according to site and severity.
Vaccine: who and when?
Product: Gardasil 9 is the only HPV vaccine currently available in the United States. Routine vaccination is recommended at ages 11-12 and may begin at age 9. Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26. Selected adults ages 27-45 may choose vaccination through shared clinical decision-making. A two-dose series is used when started before age 15; a three-dose series is used when started later or for immunocompromised people.
Cost note: Cost varies by dose, provider, insurance, and age. Recommended vaccination is commonly covered in network, and eligible children can receive Gardasil 9 through the Vaccines for Children program.
Trusted source
Patient cost varies by insurance, provider, location, and eligibility. Coverage and public-health access differ, so listed prices are examples rather than guaranteed patient prices. This page is for general education and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, vaccination assessment, or treatment.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, and Vaccine Information
HPV is so common that most sexually active people acquire at least one type during life. Infection is not evidence of recent infidelity because the virus can remain undetected for years. Most infections clear without treatment. The public-health concern is persistent infection with high-risk types that can gradually transform cells into precancer and cancer. Vaccination before exposure prevents most cancers caused by the targeted types.
Important: This page is for general education. It does not replace diagnosis, treatment, vaccination advice, or emergency care from a qualified healthcare professional.
Quick Facts
| Topic | Current information |
|---|---|
| Cause | HPV infection is caused by human papillomaviruses. More than 200 types exist. Infection spreads mainly through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and other intimate skin contact. |
| Main symptoms | Most infections cause no symptoms and clear naturally. Some low-risk types cause genital warts. Persistent high-risk infection can cause precancerous changes and cancers of the cervix, anus, penis, vulva, vagina, or oropharynx. |
| Typical course | Most new infections become undetectable within one to two years. Persistent infection can last for years and may cause precancer or cancer after a long interval. Warts may resolve, persist, or recur after treatment. |
| Treatment | There is no medicine that eradicates HPV itself. Clinicians treat genital warts, precancerous lesions, and cancers using topical medicines, procedures, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other cancer therapy according to site and severity. |
| Vaccine status | Product: Gardasil 9 is the only HPV vaccine currently available in the United States. Routine vaccination is recommended at ages 11-12 and may begin at age 9. Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26. Selected adults ages 27-45 may choose vaccination through shared clinical decision-making. A two-dose series is used when started before age 15; a three-dose series is used when started later or for immunocompromised people. |
History and Public-Health Importance
Research linking persistent HPV to cervical cancer led to molecular screening and virus-like-particle vaccines. The first U.S. HPV vaccine was licensed in 2006. Gardasil 9 now provides protection against nine types: 6 and 11, which cause most genital warts, and seven high-risk types associated with cancer. Vaccination does not replace cervical screening because it does not cover every cancer-causing type and many adults were exposed before vaccination.
What Causes Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
HPV infection is caused by human papillomaviruses. More than 200 types exist. Infection spreads mainly through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and other intimate skin contact.
HPV spreads through intimate skin contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex, even when no symptoms or warts are visible. Condoms lower but do not eliminate risk because uncovered skin can carry the virus. Rarely, infection passes during birth and can cause respiratory papillomatosis. HPV does not spread through toilet seats, swimming pools, or ordinary casual contact.
Symptoms and Typical Course
Most infections cause no symptoms and clear naturally. Some low-risk types cause genital warts. Persistent high-risk infection can cause precancerous changes and cancers of the cervix, anus, penis, vulva, vagina, or oropharynx.
Visible genital warts can be flat, raised, single, clustered, small, or large. High-risk infection and precancer are usually silent. The immune system clears most infections within one to two years, but tobacco exposure, immune suppression, and other factors can favor persistence. Cancer generally develops over years, creating opportunities for screening and treatment of precancer.
Complications and Who Is at Higher Risk
Persistent oncogenic HPV is responsible for nearly all cervical cancers and many anal, penile, vulvar, vaginal, and oropharyngeal cancers. Precancer often causes no symptoms, making vaccination and recommended screening important.
HPV causes cervical, anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers, as well as genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Cervical screening detects precancer before symptoms. There is no routine screening test recommended for every other HPV-related cancer site, so vaccination has particular importance for all genders.
How It Is Diagnosed
Genital warts are usually diagnosed by examination. Cervical HPV tests detect high-risk viral DNA or RNA and are used with age-appropriate screening strategies. An abnormal HPV or Pap result does not mean cancer; it identifies people who may need repeat testing, colposcopy, or biopsy. There is no approved test to determine a person’s overall HPV status or to screen the mouth or throat routinely.
Treatment and Recovery
There is no medicine that eradicates HPV itself. Clinicians treat genital warts, precancerous lesions, and cancers using topical medicines, procedures, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other cancer therapy according to site and severity.
Treatments remove warts or abnormal tissue but may not immediately eliminate infection. Patient-applied wart medicines include imiquimod, podofilox, and sinecatechins; clinician treatments include cryotherapy, trichloroacetic acid, or surgical removal. Precancer is treated according to its grade and location. Cancer care may combine surgery, radiation, systemic therapy, and multidisciplinary follow-up.
Vaccine Information
Product: Gardasil 9 is the only HPV vaccine currently available in the United States. Routine vaccination is recommended at ages 11-12 and may begin at age 9. Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26. Selected adults ages 27-45 may choose vaccination through shared clinical decision-making. A two-dose series is used when started before age 15; a three-dose series is used when started later or for immunocompromised people.
Gardasil 9 is a noninfectious recombinant vaccine and cannot cause HPV infection. People starting before the 15th birthday usually receive two doses 6 to 12 months apart. People starting at ages 15 through 26 and immunocompromised people receive three doses at 0, 1-2, and 6 months. Vaccination prevents new infections but does not treat existing HPV or abnormal screening results. It is delayed during pregnancy but can be given while breastfeeding.
Prevention
Vaccinate on time, use condoms or barriers, avoid tobacco, limit new partners, and follow cervical screening recommendations. Partners generally do not need special HPV testing solely because one person has a positive result. Open communication and routine sexual healthcare reduce stigma and improve prevention.
When to Seek Medical Care
See a clinician for new genital, anal, or oral growths; unexplained bleeding; persistent throat symptoms; or an abnormal screening result. Urgent care is not usually required for warts, but prompt follow-up of precancer can prevent cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HPV always cause cancer?
No. Most infections clear naturally. Cancer risk comes mainly from persistent infection with certain high-risk types.
Can Gardasil 9 treat an existing infection?
No. It prevents new infections with covered types but does not remove an infection or treat warts and precancer already present.
Do boys and men need HPV vaccination?
Yes. Vaccination prevents genital warts and several cancers in every gender.
Is cervical screening still needed after vaccination?
Yes. The vaccine does not cover every oncogenic type and may have been given after some exposure.
Key Takeaway
HPV is common, often silent, and usually clears—but persistent high-risk infection can cause cancer. Timely Gardasil 9 vaccination and recommended cervical screening provide powerful prevention.
Medical, treatment, and vaccine information was reviewed against official U.S. public-health guidance available through September 2026.