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Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Florida Health

Disease Control

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV is a common skin virus contracted through direct contact or sexual activity. Approximately 79 million people in the United States are infected with HPV and approximately 14 million will become infected each year. Over 100 HPV types have been found and 40 HPV types can cause cancer in both men and women.

  • HPV Type Classification
  • Transmission and Symptoms
  • Complications and Incidence
  • Vaccination

HPV Type Classification

  • Non-cancerous
  • Cancerous

Non-Cancerous HPV Types Can Cause

  • Respiratory tract disease
  • Abnormal Pap results in women
  • Genital warts

Cancerous or High Risk HPV Type Can Cause

  • Oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers
  • Cervical, vulva and vagina cancer in women
  • Penile cancer in men
  • Anal cancers and genital warts

HPV Transmission

HPV is spread through direct contact with an infected person. Most frequently through sexual contact.

HPV Symptoms

  • Warts in oral, nasal, conjunctival areas
  • Flat warts on the face of children & adults
  • Cutaneous non-genital warts
  • Anal cancers and genital warts
  • Plantar warts on the foot
  • Thread-like (filiform) warts
  • Common skin warts on hands & around nails

HPV Complications

Persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV is associated with development of cervical cancer. Others are vaginal, penile, vulva and anal cancers, and some oropharyngeal cancers.

HPV Incidence

Every year about 17,500 women and 9,300 men are affected by cancers caused by HPV. Approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die from this disease in the United States.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that routine HPV vaccination be initiated for all children at age 11 or 12 years. Vaccination can be started as early as age 9 years.

The HPV catch-up series is recommended for all persons through age 26. ACIP did not recommend catch-up vaccination for all adults aged 27 through 45 years, but recognized that some persons who are not adequately vaccinated might be at risk for new HPV infection and might benefit from vaccination in this age range; therefore, ACIP recommended shared clinical decision-making regarding potential HPV vaccination for these person.

Gardasil 9 (9vHPV, Merck) is the only HPV vaccine being distributed in the United States.