What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. Almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms.
HPV can affect the skin, genital area and throat.
Condoms help prevent HPV but do not offer total protection because they do not cover all the genital skin.
HPV usually goes away on its own without treatment. Some HPV infections cause genital warts. Others can cause abnormal cells to develop, which go on to become cancer.
Cancers from HPV can be prevented with vaccines.
