Contents of Principal Viral STIs: Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Lecture Notes

Certain types of HPV can cause genital warts in men and women and are referred to as "low risk". Other HPV types can cause cancer and are referred to as "high risk". These HPV types can cause cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, penile, and oropharynx cancers. Transmission occurs primarily through direct skin to skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It is easily transmitted through genital contact. Symptoms usually appear 6 weeks to 8 months after exposure. Most infected people are asymptomatic, and most infections are temporary. Genital warts usually appear as soft, moist, pink, or flesh-colored swellings. They can appear on the penis or scrotum, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, or on the groin or thigh.

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