How is hpv spread

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. Cervical cancer can be found early and even prevented with routine screening tests. The Pap test looks for changes in cervical cells caused by HPV infection. The HPV test looks for the infection itself. HPV can also cause cancer of the vulva , which is the outer part of the female genital organs. This cancer is much less common than cervical cancer.

Many vaginal pre-cancers also contain HPV, and these changes may be present for years before turning into cancer. If a pre-cancer is found, it can be treated, stopping cancer before it really starts. In men, HPV can cause cancer of the penis.

Because almost all penile cancers start under the foreskin of the penis, they may be noticed early in the course of the disease.

HPV can cause cancer of the anus in both men and women. Screening tests for anal cancer are not routinely recommended for all people. This includes men who have sex with men, individuals who have had cervical cancer or vulvar cancer, anyone who is HIV-positive, and anyone who has had an organ transplant.

HPV is found in some mouth and throat cancers in men and women. Most cancers found in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils, are HPV-related. These are the most common HPV-related cancers in men. Still, many can be found early during routine exams by a dentist, doctor, dental hygienist, or by self-exam.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infections, but cervical cancer may take 20 years or longer to develop after an HPV infection. The HPV infection and early cervical cancer typically don't cause noticeable symptoms.

Getting vaccinated against HPV infection is your best protection from cervical cancer. Because early cervical cancer doesn't cause symptoms, it's vital that women have regular screening tests to detect any precancerous changes in the cervix that might lead to cancer.

Current guidelines recommend that women ages 21 to 29 have a Pap test every three years. Women ages 30 to 65 are advised to continue having a Pap test every three years, or every five years if they also get the HPV DNA test at the same time.

If you or your child has warts of any kind that cause embarrassment, discomfort or pain, seek advice from your doctor. HPV infection occurs when the virus enters your body, usually through a cut, abrasion or small tear in your skin. The virus is transferred primarily by skin-to-skin contact.

Genital HPV infections are contracted through sexual intercourse, anal sex and other skin-to-skin contact in the genital region. Some HPV infections that result in oral or upper respiratory lesions are contracted through oral sex. If you're pregnant and have an HPV infection with genital warts, it's possible your baby may get the infection.

Rarely, the infection may cause a noncancerous growth in the baby's voice box larynx. Warts are contagious. They can spread through direct contact with a wart. Warts can also spread when someone touches something that already touched a wart. HPV infections are common. Risk factors for HPV infection include:.

It's difficult to prevent HPV infections that cause common warts. If you have a common wart, you can prevent the spread of the infection and formation of new warts by not picking at a wart and not biting your nails. To reduce the risk of contracting HPV infections that cause plantar warts, wear shoes or sandals in public pools and locker rooms.

You can reduce your risk of developing genital warts and other HPV -related genital lesions by:. Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine approved by the U. Food and Drug Administration and can be used for males and females to protect against cervical cancer and genital warts.

It's ideal for girls and boys to receive the vaccine before they have sexual contact and are exposed to HPV. Research has shown that receiving the vaccine at a young age isn't linked to an earlier start of sexual activity. Once someone is infected with HPV , the vaccine might not be as effective or might not work at all. Also, response to the vaccine is better at younger ages than older ones. But, if given before someone is infected, the vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer. Younger adolescents ages 9 and 10 and teens ages 13 and 14 can also receive vaccination on the updated two-dose schedule.

Research has shown that the two-dose schedule is effective for children under Teens and young adults who begin the vaccine series later, at ages 15 through 26, should continue to receive three doses of the vaccine. The U. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of Gardasil 9 for males and females ages 9 to If you're age 27 to 45, discuss with your doctor whether he or she recommends that you get the HPV vaccine. HPV is not transmitted through bodily fluids such as semen or saliva, but through skin-to-skin contact.

This happens most easily through sexual contact, such as vaginal, anal and oral sex. But it can also happen if HPV comes into contact with any mucous membrane such as mouths, lips, anus and parts of the genitals or with a break in your skin, such as a vaginal tear.

A condom, when used properly, does reduce the risk of HPV transmission. This is because the HPV virus is found mostly in the penile skin so if you cover the shaft of the penis, then you are making some progress. There is historical data that shows Jewish and Muslim women are less likely to get cervical cancer.

That is one of the reasons that you should give the HPV vaccine to boys. Results of a recent large-scale study were released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in May The most significant reduction was seen in men.

A reduction of oral HPV infections suggests that there might be a corresponding reduction in the oral cancers that develop from high-risk HPV over time. More studies will need to be done to determine if indeed the HPV vaccine prevents these cancers. The same HPV types that are linked to cervical cancer are also linked to cancer of the vulva AKA external female genitals. Therefore a woman who is infected with HPV or has a history of cervical dysplasia has a higher risk of developing vulvar cancer, too.