Why is hpv bad

We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Some strains cause warts, but not cancer, and some strains cause no problems at all. HPV is the leading cause of anal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer cancer of the back of the throat.

Actor Michael Douglas made headlines back in when he announced that he got throat cancer , not by drinking and smoking , but from HPV. Testing is not a reliable way to screen for cancer or cancer risk. Here are some general recommendations. Genital warts: Before HPV vaccines were introduced, roughly , to , women and men were affected by genital warts caused by HPV every year. Cervical cancer: Every year, nearly 12, women living in the U.

There are other conditions and cancers caused by HPV that occur in people living in the United States. Every year, approximately 19, women and 12, men are affected by cancers caused by HPV. This could be an underestimate of the actual number of people who get genital warts. If you are pregnant and have HPV, you can get genital warts or develop abnormal cell changes on your cervix.

Abnormal cell changes can be found with routine cervical cancer screening. You should get routine cervical cancer screening even when you are pregnant. There is no treatment for the virus itself. However, there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause:. Cervical Cancer Screening. Box Rockville, MD E-mail: npin-info cdc. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Human Papillomavirus HPV. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. STDs Home Page. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. HPV is spread through having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus. HPV can be spread even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms.

There are various types of HPV. Some strains of the virus may lead to health problems, such as genital warts and cervical or oral cancer. Warts often show up as a small bump or a group of bumps in the genital region. They can be small or large, raised or flat or shaped like a cauliflower. Your health care provider can diagnose warts by looking at your genital area.

Cervical and oral cancers are diagnosed via screening tests. Although there is no cure for the HPV virus itself yet, there are treatments available for the health problems that HPV can cause. Genital warts can be treated by your doctor with prescription medication.