Human papilloma viruses comprise a group of more than 100 different viruses.
- About 40 types of HPV viruses are transmitted during sexual contact.
- Some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer if left untreated (HPV 16, 18, 31 i 45). They are called high-risk, oncogenic viruses.
- HPV infection is usually sexually transmitted disease.
- About 75 % of sexually active people will be infected with HPV during their life (this statistics is based on U.S. population data).
- Most women diagnosed with HPV (women that will not undergo HPV treatmeng) will not get cervical cancer.
Some HPV viruses cause genital warts, but these viruses do not cause cervical cancer. According to the latest findings, low risk genotypes (HPV 6 i 11 ) can not cause invasive cancer, its the benign changes including genital condylomas i.e. genital warts which can cause this type of cancer. These warts can appear on the vagina, penis and anus, and sometimes they can be painful and even bleeding.
HPV infection is often asymptomatic, i.e. shows no symptoms, so most women do not know they are infected.