Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world. Health experts estimate there are more cases of genital HPV infection than any other STI in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 6.2 million new cases of sexually transmitted HPV infections are reported every year. At least 20 million people in this country are already infected.

What is HPV?

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is commonly transmitted between humans through their skin or moist membrane linings such as in the vagina, anus, mouth, or throat. Low risk HPV can result in no easily identifiable symptoms but high risk HPV can even lead to cancer. There are over 100 types of HPV viruses and each one is given a virus number to differentiate them.

HPV Prevention

HPV and Cervical Cancer

HPV and Lung and Throat Cancer

HPV and Warts

HPV Testing

HPV Transmission

Penile Intraepithelial Neoplasia Overview

Hybrid Capture-Based Human Papillomavirus Detection

Hybrid Capture-Based Human Papillomavirus Detection Versus PCR

HPV Vaccination and Autoimmune Disorders: Is There a Link?

HPV Vaccination and Fertility

Latest Human Papillomavirus (HPV) News and Research

One in three men carry HPV: The ignored reservoir in the fight against cancer

One in three men over 15 globally have at least one incidence of genital HPV, underscoring the need to include males in HPV prevention strategies. The prevalence remains high from young adulthood through later life, particularly for high-risk HPV types linked to cancers.

6 Sep 2023

Dramatic reduction in cervical cancer in the UK following the introduction of HPV vaccination

The current study assessed the impact of HPV vaccination on the rates of cervical cancer and cervical carcinoma in situ.

7 Nov 2021

NIH spearheads study to test at-home screening for HPV and cervical cancer

With a tiny brush, briefly swab the vagina to collect cells. Then slide the swab into a screening kit and drop it into the mail.

1 Jul 2020

Multilevel interventions improve overall rate of HPV vaccinations

New research from Boston Medical Center shows that providing education and training to pediatric and family medicine providers about the importance of human papillomavirus vaccines, in tandem with healthcare systems changes including starting an HPV vaccination series before the age of 11, improves the overall rate of HPV vaccinations among adolescent patients.

15 Jun 2020

Simple saliva test detects early throat cancer

A simple saliva test developed by QUT biomedical scientists has detected early throat cancer in a person who had no symptom and no clinical signs of cancer.

12 May 2020

Resurgence of measles or polio outbreaks likely to happen, experts warn

Interruptions to vaccination programmes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could result in new waves of measles or polio outbreaks, health experts warn.

24 Apr 2020

Radiation therapy plays a crucial role in management of OPSCC

HPV-negative UM-SCC4 with and without transfection of HPV E6 oncoprotein, HPV-negative UPCI-SCC-089, and HPV-positive UPCI-SCC-099 cell lines were used in this study.

22 Apr 2020

Microbiome could help identify pre-cancer risk in women with HPV

A new study published in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens in March 2020 reports the possible use of the bacteria Gardnerella found in the cervix and vagina of women with Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, as a marker of precancerous change. The findings could help to find new methods of treatment that involve inducing changes in the microbiome to arrest the course of the disease.

26 Mar 2020

YAP signal pathway plays a vital role in the onset of head-and-neck cancer

Joint research between Kobe University and National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center has revealed that mice with mutations in the YAP signal pathway develop head-and-neck cancer over an extremely short period of time (world's fastest cancer onset mouse model), indicating that this pathway plays a crucial role in the onset of these cancers.

25 Mar 2020

Vaccinating both boys and girls can help eliminate HPV infections

The human papillomavirus causes, amongst other diseases, cancer of the cervix and oropharynx. A Swedish-Finnish study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases now shows that the most oncogenic HPV types can be eliminated, but only if both girls and boys are vaccinated.

12 Mar 2020

Microbial DNA in the blood could help identify who has cancer

When Gregory Poore was a freshman in college, his otherwise healthy grandmother was shocked to learn that she had late-stage pancreatic cancer. The condition was diagnosed in late December. She died in January.

11 Mar 2020

A high number of lifetime sexual partners raises cancer risk

A new study seems to reinforce traditional common sense and good morals: people who play around with sex tend to have a higher risk of cancer. The study published online in the journal BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health in February 2020 shows that having ten or more sex partners increases the risk of cancer in both men and women. And in women, this pattern of sexual behavior increases the chances of a chronic debilitating illness.

13 Feb 2020

Sexual orientation affects skin cancer risk in the USA

A new study published in the journal JAMA Dermatology in February 2020 shows a higher rate of indoor tanning and a corresponding increase in skin cancer, among men with homosexual or bisexual preferences compared to heterosexual men.

12 Feb 2020

The U.S. can erase cervical cancer in two decades

Cervical cancer is preventable, thanks to the development of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Various strains of HPV, a sexually transmitted infection, play a significant role in the event of cervical cancer. Now, the U.S. can eradicate cervical cancer within the next 20 years, according to a new study.

11 Feb 2020

Young sexual minority men do not fully understand their risk for HPV infection

Young sexual minority men -- including those who are gay, bisexual, queer or straight-identified men who have sex with men -- do not fully understand their risk for human papillomavirus due to a lack of information from health care providers, according to Rutgers researchers.

11 Feb 2020

Single dose of HPV vaccine is effective for preventing preinvasive cervical disease

New research indicates that a single dose of the human papillomavirus vaccine is as effective as multiple doses for preventing preinvasive cervical disease, which can later develop into cervical cancer.

10 Feb 2020

What parents need to know about the HPV vaccine

The vaccine that prevents infection from human papillomavirus (HPV) is nothing short of a medical marvel.

28 Jan 2020

Researchers identify how marijuana accelerates growth of HPV-related head and neck cancer

University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers have identified the molecular mechanism activated by the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the ingredient that causes people to feel the euphoria or "high" associated with cannabis - in the bloodstream that accelerates cancer growth in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

13 Jan 2020

Patients with HPV-negative oropharynx cancer have higher risk of early death

New research indicates that there is a higher risk of early death among patients with oropharynx cancer when not caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), than those whose tumors are HPV-positive.

13 Jan 2020

One dose of HPV vaccine may prevent infection from cancer-causing virus, study reveals

A new study revealed that one dose of the HPV vaccine may prevent infection from the potential cancer-causing virus, according to research published in JAMA Network Open from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

28 Dec 2019