Where is hpv

Anyone who has had sex can get HPV, even if it was only with only one person, but infections are more likely in people who have had many sex partners. Even if a person delays sexual activity until marriage, or only has one partner, they are still at risk of HPV infection if their partner has been exposed. To learn more about any of the cancers listed here, visit our website at www. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer linked to HPV in people with a cervix.

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 can infect both males and females. High-risk HPV infections that persist can cause cancer: Sometimes HPV infections are not successfully controlled by your immune system.

When a high-risk HPV infection persists for many years, it can lead to cell changes that, if untreated, may get worse over time and become cancer. Long-lasting infections with high-risk HPVs can cause cancer in parts of the body where HPV infects cells, such as in the cervix , oropharynx the part of the throat at the back of the mouth, behind the oral cavity that also includes the back third of the tongue, the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, and the tonsils , anus , penis , vagina , and vulva.

HPV infects the squamous cells that line the inner surfaces of these organs. For this reason, most HPV-related cancers are a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Some cervical cancers come from HPV infection of gland cells in the cervix and are called adenocarcinomas. Worldwide, the burden of HPV-related cancers is much greater.

Cervical cancer is among the most common cancers and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in low- and middle-income countries, where screening tests and treatment of early cervical cell changes are not readily available.

HPV passes easily between sexual partners. It can be transmitted through any intimate skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal—penile sex, penile—anal sex, penile—oral sex, vaginal—oral sex, and use of sex toys or other objects. The infection passes easily between sexual partners. Condoms and dental dams can lower the chance of HPV transmission but do not prevent it completely. Infection with high-risk HPV does not usually cause symptoms. The precancerous cell changes caused by a persistent HPV infection at the cervix rarely cause symptoms, which is why regular cervical cancer screening is important.

Precancerous lesions at other sites in the body may cause symptoms like itching or bleeding. And if an HPV infection develops into cancer, the cancer may cause symptoms like bleeding, pain, or swollen glands. Learn more about signs and symptoms of cervical , vaginal , vulvar , penile , anal, and oropharyngeal cancers.

Vaccination is prevention and does not cure an infection once you have it. HPV vaccination offers the most protection when given at ages The HPV vaccine series is recommended for girls and boys, at the age of 11 or 12, and the series can be started at age 9. It is important for males as well as females to get vaccinated, because both men and women can develop cancers of the mouth and throat, anal cancers, and genital wart s.

Women are also at risk for cervical cancer, and men for penile cancer. Vaccination can also reduce the spread of HPV that causes cancer to other people. Children who start the vaccine series before age 15 need two doses to be protected. Those who receive their first dose at age 15 or older need three doses to be protected. Adults in this age group benefit less from the vaccine because they are more likely to have been exposed to HPV already. Therefore vaccination is not routinely recommended for people in this age group.

If you are concerned that you are at risk for a new HPV infection, talk with your health care provider about whether HPV vaccination may be right for you.

Learn more about the human papillomavirus HPV vaccine. Screening tests are used to check for disease when there are no symptoms. The goal of screening for cervical cancer is to find precancerous cell changes at an early stage, before they become cancer and when treatment can prevent cancer from developing. Screening for cervical cancer is an important part of routine health care for people who have a cervix.

This includes women and transgender men who still have a cervix. Sometimes an HPV infection can become active again after many years. Learn more about what it means if a woman has a positive HPV test after many years of negative tests.

Research studies are ongoing to identify tests that can detect precancers in these areas or find cancer in an earlier, more treatable stage. Anal cancer screening: Among populations that are at higher risk for HPV infection, such as men who have sex with men or men who are HIV positive , some research has found that an anal Pap test also called an anal Pap smear may help to detect early cell changes or precancerous cells. Research is ongoing to see if treating anal precancer prevents anal cancer.

Oral cancer screening: Currently, there are no standard screening tests for oral cancer. However, the American Dental Association ADA recommends dentists check for signs of oral and oropharyngeal cancer as part of a routine dental check-up in all patients. Although HPV infection itself cannot be treated, there are treatments for the precancerous cell changes caused by infection with high-risk HPV. Precancerous cervical cell changes : Most women who have precancerous cervical cell changes are treated with the loop electrosurgical excision procedure LEEP , which is a method to remove the abnormal tissue.

Learn more about treatments for abnormal cervical cell changes. Precancerous vaginal, vulvar, penile, and anal lesions and genital warts : Treatment methods include topical medicines, surgical excision , cryosurgery , and laser therapy. HPV-related cancers: Individuals who develop an HPV-related cancer generally receive the same treatment as patients with tumors at the same site that are not related to HPV infection.

However, patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer may receive different treatments than patients whose oropharyngeal cancers are not caused by HPV. Learn more about treatment options for oropharyngeal cancer , including targeted therapy and new types of treatment such as immunotherapy being tested in clinical trials.

HPV infection causes cells to undergo changes. If not treated these cells can, over time, become cancer cells. Once high-risk HPV infects cells, it interferes with the ways in which these cells communicate with one another, causing infected cells to multiply in an uncontrolled manner. These infected cells are usually recognized and controlled by the immune system.

However, sometimes the infected cells remain and continue to grow, eventually forming an area of precancerous cells that, if not treated, can become cancer. Research has found that it can take 10 to 20 years, or even longer, for HPV-infected cervical cells to develop into a cancerous tumor. Among women whose cervical cells are infected with high-risk HPV, several factors increase the chance that the infection will be long lasting and lead to precancerous cervical cells.

These include:. Clinical trials are an important step in learning about better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, such as cancers caused by HPV. Menu Contact Dictionary Search. Understanding Cancer. What Is Cancer? Cancer Statistics. Cancer Disparities. Cancer Causes and Prevention.

Risk Factors. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area. HPV can cause cervical and other cancers including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus.

It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils called oropharyngeal cancer. Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV. There is no way to know which people who have HPV will develop cancer or other health problems.

They may also be more likely to develop health problems from HPV. Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. It can protect against diseases including cancers caused by HPV when given in the recommended age groups. Get screened for cervical cancer. Routine screening for women aged 21 to 65 years old can prevent cervical cancer. HPV vaccination is recommended at age 11 or 12 years or can start at age 9 years and for everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already.

Vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26 years. However, some adults age 27 through 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to get the HPV vaccine after speaking with their healthcare provider about their risk for new HPV infections and the possible benefits of vaccination. HPV vaccination in this age range provides less benefit.

Most sexually active adults have already been exposed to HPV, although not necessarily all of the HPV types targeted by vaccination. At any age, having a new sex partner is a risk factor for getting a new HPV infection. People who are already in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship are not likely to get a new HPV infection.

There are HPV tests that can be used to screen for cervical cancer. These tests are only recommended for screening in women aged 30 years and older.

HPV tests are not recommended to screen men, adolescents, or women under the age of 30 years.