What Is HPV And What Are Its Types?
Introduction
HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses, some of which are known to cause cancer. There are two types of HPV that are most likely to cause cervical cancer: HPV-16 and HPV-18. These types account for about 70% of all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. Other types of high-risk HPV can cause cancers of the penis, anus, mouth, or throat—these cancers are much less common than cervical cancer. Still other types can cause genital warts in both men and women (see below).
HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses, some of which are known to cause cancer.
In order to understand HPV, it helps to know a few things about viruses.
Viruses are a group of more than 150 related viruses, some of which are known to cause cancer. They are not bacteria; instead, they’re tiny bits of genetic material that replicate inside living cells. The vast majority of the time, your body’s immune system will fight off infection and you won’t get sick at all (though this isn’t always the case). There is no cure for HPV in humans; however, most people clear their infections without any lasting health problems.
However, some people will develop persistent infections or chronic diseases related to HPV exposure over time—and that’s where things can get complicated. While an estimated 80% of women with genital warts will clear their infection within two years without treatment, there are also cases where women suffer from long-term pain or discomfort due to these warts growing back after treatment—which can be expensive and painful!
The two types of HPV most likely to cause cervical cancer are HPV-16 and HPV-18.
HPV-16 and HPV-18 are the two types of HPV that cause the most cases of cervical cancer. They’re also the two most common types of HPV found in men, but they don’t cause as much cancer in men as they do in women.
The good news is that both men and women can have Pap tests to screen for early signs of cervical cancer when they visit their doctors. If you’re worried about getting cervical cancer or getting another type of cancer from someone who has been infected with HPV, talk to your health care provider about tests you can get to find out if you have been infected with any strains of this virus.
There are three other types of HPV that are also known to cause cervical cancer, but they’re much less common than the first two. Those types are HPV-31, HPV-33, and HPV-45.
There are three other types of HPV that are also known to cause cervical cancer, but they’re much less common than the first two. Those types are HPV-31, HPV-33, and HPV-45.
HPV-31 is almost always found in women who have never had sex and causes about 3% of all cases of cervical cancer. It’s thought to be responsible for about 1% of all cases worldwide.
HPV-33 is also rare; it has been found in only a small number of cervical cancers so far (less than 10%). Like HPV-31, most people with this type of infection will never develop symptoms or health problems from it—and many will even clear their infections on their own before they can get tested or treated for them.
Other types of high-risk HPV can cause cancers of the penis, anus, mouth, or throat. These cancers are much less common than cervical cancer.
As you may have gathered, HPV is a group of viruses that can be sexually transmitted. The virus can cause cervical cancer, as well as other cancers like penile cancer and anal cancer. It also causes infections in the genital area such as genital warts.
HPV has been linked to abnormal cell changes in the cervix. Abnormal cells on the cervix are called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or CIN for short. Sometimes these changes go away on their own; other times they need treatment to get rid of them completely before they develop into cervical cancer.
Some types of low-risk HPV can cause genital warts in both men and women (see below). They can also cause abnormal cell changes in the cervix or throat that may turn into cancer over time if they’re not treated early.
Some types of low-risk HPV can cause genital warts in both men and women (see below). They can also cause abnormal cell changes in the cervix or throat that may turn into cancer over time if they’re not treated early.
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HPV causes cancer in men and women, but there are differences between the cancers caused by HPV in men versus women. Among people with a history of oral sexual behavior, most oropharyngeal cancers are linked to infection with oncogenic types of HPV 16 or 18, which can infect the entire anogenital tract.
For women who have had sex with only one partner and have been infected by an oncogenic type of HPV, it is likely that their current partner was also infected at some point during their relationship.
There are many different types of HPV.
There are over 100 types of human papillomavirus, and each one is different. Some types have been found to cause cancer, while others can cause genital warts.
While most HPV infections are harmless and go away on their own, some types may not go away or can lead to long-term health problems. The best way to prevent serious health problems from happening is by getting vaccinated against HPV before you’re exposed to the virus.
Conclusion
There are many different types of HPV, but the most common ones can cause cervical cancer if left untreated. If you have an abnormal Pap test result, it’s important to get regular follow-up exams so your doctor can identify any potential problems early enough for treatment.