Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
HPV Overview
How Common Is HPV?
Causes of HPV and Risk Factors
What Are the Mortality Rates for HPV?
Screening and Early Detection
Human papillomavirus(HPV)is a very common infection often spread through sexual activity. Though there are more than 200 strains, about 40 of them can cause genital warts or cancer in humans.This article will highlight key facts and statistics you should know about HPV.
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HPV is an infection that can spread through skin-to-skin contact, often during sex. Some HPV infections have no symptoms and may go away on their own in about two years; others may result insymptoms and become long-term infections.
There are two types of HPV infection. Low-risk HPV can causegenital warts. High-risk HPV infections can result in pre-cancerous cellular changes (calleddysplasia) that lead to certain types of cancer, such as cancer of the anus, cervix, vagina, vulva, throat, and penis.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. The most recent data states that the HPV infection prevalence (how many new or existing infections there are at a given time) in the United States is 42 million.
It is currently estimated that about 80% of women and 90% of men will have an HPV infection at some point in their lives. However, since the introduction of theHPV vaccine, rates of HPV infection have declined.
There are differences in HPV infection rates among people of different sexes. Males have higher rates of HPV in general, though there are differences between sexes depending on their age group. The number of sexual partners over a lifetime was the biggest factor influencing higher rates in males.
Because HPV is so common, most people who have sex are at risk for (and at some point will have) an HPV infection.Factors related to anincreased risk of HPV infectioninclude:
Many HPV infections will go away on their own without treatment. Those that persist may cause symptoms or cancer. Low-risk HPV infections (that can cause genital warts) are not fatal. Mortality rates are reported on high-risk HPV-related cancers that can be fatal. However, if diagnosed early, many can be treated.
Understanding Survival RatesAsurvival rateis a way to estimate how an average person who is diagnosed with a particular disease or condition, such as cancer, will survive in a given amount of time. Often, survival rates are provided in increments of one year, two years, or five years.
Understanding Survival Rates
Asurvival rateis a way to estimate how an average person who is diagnosed with a particular disease or condition, such as cancer, will survive in a given amount of time. Often, survival rates are provided in increments of one year, two years, or five years.
For someone who has a cervix,screening for and diagnosing an HPV infectionmay take place during a regular gynecological exam. A healthcare provider will use a speculum to spread the walls of the vagina open and perform a visual exam to look for any genital warts, including inside of the vagina and on the cervix.
An HPV test may detect high-risk HPV infections. During the test, a healthcare provider will collect a sample of cells from your cervix using a brush or swab. This may occur at the same time you have a Pap test. It is recommended that people with a cervix between the ages of 26 and 65 years old test for HPV at least every five years.
Though people with a penis can be diagnosed with genital warts with a visual exam, there are no recommended routine HPV tests for this population. However, some healthcare providers may give an HPV test to those who are at a higher risk for anal cancer.
Summary
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.HPV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.Hirth J.Disparities in HPV vaccination rates and HPV prevalence in the united states: a review of the literature.Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2019;15(1):146-155. doi:10.1080/21645515.2018.1512453McQuillan G, Kruszon-Moran D, Markowitz LE, et al.Prevalence of HPV in adults aged 18–69: united states, 2011–2014. NCHS data brief, no 280. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2017.Lewis RM, Markowitz LE, Gargano JW, Steinau M, Unger ER.Prevalence of genital human papillomavirus among sexually experienced males and females aged 14–59 years, united states, 2013–2014.J Infect Dis. 2018;217(6):869-877. doi:10.1093/infdis/jix655American Cancer Society.Cancers linked with HPV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HPV.American Cancer Society.Risk factors for cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: oral cavity and pharynx cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: anal cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: vulvar cancer.Planned Parenthood.What’s an HPV test?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and men — fact sheet.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.HPV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.Hirth J.Disparities in HPV vaccination rates and HPV prevalence in the united states: a review of the literature.Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2019;15(1):146-155. doi:10.1080/21645515.2018.1512453McQuillan G, Kruszon-Moran D, Markowitz LE, et al.Prevalence of HPV in adults aged 18–69: united states, 2011–2014. NCHS data brief, no 280. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2017.Lewis RM, Markowitz LE, Gargano JW, Steinau M, Unger ER.Prevalence of genital human papillomavirus among sexually experienced males and females aged 14–59 years, united states, 2013–2014.J Infect Dis. 2018;217(6):869-877. doi:10.1093/infdis/jix655American Cancer Society.Cancers linked with HPV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HPV.American Cancer Society.Risk factors for cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: oral cavity and pharynx cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: anal cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: vulvar cancer.Planned Parenthood.What’s an HPV test?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and men — fact sheet.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.HPV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.Hirth J.Disparities in HPV vaccination rates and HPV prevalence in the united states: a review of the literature.Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2019;15(1):146-155. doi:10.1080/21645515.2018.1512453McQuillan G, Kruszon-Moran D, Markowitz LE, et al.Prevalence of HPV in adults aged 18–69: united states, 2011–2014. NCHS data brief, no 280. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2017.Lewis RM, Markowitz LE, Gargano JW, Steinau M, Unger ER.Prevalence of genital human papillomavirus among sexually experienced males and females aged 14–59 years, united states, 2013–2014.J Infect Dis. 2018;217(6):869-877. doi:10.1093/infdis/jix655American Cancer Society.Cancers linked with HPV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HPV.American Cancer Society.Risk factors for cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: oral cavity and pharynx cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: anal cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: vulvar cancer.Planned Parenthood.What’s an HPV test?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and men — fact sheet.
MedlinePlus.HPV.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.
Hirth J.Disparities in HPV vaccination rates and HPV prevalence in the united states: a review of the literature.Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2019;15(1):146-155. doi:10.1080/21645515.2018.1512453
McQuillan G, Kruszon-Moran D, Markowitz LE, et al.Prevalence of HPV in adults aged 18–69: united states, 2011–2014. NCHS data brief, no 280. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2017.
Lewis RM, Markowitz LE, Gargano JW, Steinau M, Unger ER.Prevalence of genital human papillomavirus among sexually experienced males and females aged 14–59 years, united states, 2013–2014.J Infect Dis. 2018;217(6):869-877. doi:10.1093/infdis/jix655
American Cancer Society.Cancers linked with HPV.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HPV.
American Cancer Society.Risk factors for cervical cancer.
National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: cervical cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: oral cavity and pharynx cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: anal cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: vulvar cancer.
Planned Parenthood.What’s an HPV test?.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and men — fact sheet.
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