Key points
- HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus that can cause cancers later in life.
- You can protect your child from these cancers with HPV vaccination.
- Nearly everyone who is not vaccinated will get HPV at some point in their lives.
What it is
HPV infections are very common. Nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives.
- More than 42 million Americans are infected with types of HPV that are known to cause disease.
- About 13 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year.
HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus, even if they don't have signs or symptoms.
Types
HPV types are often referred to as "non-oncogenic" (wart-causing) or "oncogenic" (cancer-causing), based on whether they put a person at risk for cancer.
How it affects your body
Most HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away by themselves within 2 years. But sometimes, HPV infections will last longer and can cause some cancers. HPV infections can cause cancers of the:
- Cervix, vagina, and vulva
- Penis
- Anus
- Back of the throat (called oropharyngeal cancer), including the base of the tongue and tonsils
Every year in the United States, HPV causes about 36,000 cases of cancer in both men and women.
Prevention
Protect your child with vaccination. CDC recommends 2 doses of HPV vaccine at ages 11–12 years. HPV vaccination can be started at age 9 years.
- Children who get the first dose before their 15th birthday need only 2 doses.
- Teens who get the first dose on or after their 15th birthday need 3 doses.
The HPV vaccine series is most effective when given before a person is exposed to the virus.