HPV stands for human papillomavirus, the name given to a very common group of viruses. There are more than 100 different types of virus and, while they don’t usually lead to any symptoms, the virus can occasionally cause genital warts and other such painless growths and lumps around the genital area.
Many types of HPV also affect the throat and mouth, which makes them easy to catch. You can catch the viruses through skin to skin contact of the genital area, as well as through penetrative and oral sex.
Some types of HPV have been linked to the development of various cancers and these are known as high-risk HPVs. Cancers linked to these forms of the virus include cervical, anal, penile, vulval and vaginal cancers, as well as some types of head and neck cancer.
HPV infections are usually asymptomatic and the majority of people will not know they’re infected. Most people will get an HPV infection at some point, but their bodies will clear it for them naturally without the need of medical intervention or treatment.
However, some people who are infected with the high-risk form of the virus will not be able to clear it in this way and, over time, this can lead to abnormal tissue growth and other such changes. If this is left untreated, it is possible that it could lead to cancer.
