HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are many types of HPVs. Some of them are spread through close skin-to-skin touching during sex with a person who has the virus. These HPVs are the most common cause of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Certain types of HPV cause genital warts . Other types, called "high-risk HPV," can cause cancer, especially cancer of the cervix . The cervix is the lower part of the uterus where a baby grows during pregnancy. Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV. That means if you have a cervix and are infected with certain types of HPV, you have a higher risk of getting cervical cancer.
HPV tests use a sample of cells from your cervix to look for signs of infection with high-risk HPVs that can lead to cervical cancer. Knowing whether you have HPV helps your health care provider understand your risk for developing cervical cancer. If you have an HPV infection, you can discuss whether you need other tests and how often you should be checked for cervical cancer.
Usually, your immune system gets rid of an HPV infection naturally within two years without causing any health problems. But in certain cases, high-risk HPV infections can stay in the body for many years, even decades. These long-lasting infections can lead to cancer.
Other names: genital human papillomavirus, high risk HPV, HPV DNA, HPV RNA