Human virus hpv

Anal cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the anus. The anus is the opening of the rectum last part of the large intestine to the outside of the body. Who can get HPV? Can I prevent HPV? You are more likely to get HPV if you have: sex at an early age, many sex partners, or a sex partner who has had many partners. If there are no signs, why do I need to worry about HPV? What else can I do to lower my chances of getting HPV? You can choose not to have sex abstinence. If you have sex, you can limit the number of partners you have.

Choose a partner who has had no or few sex partners. The fewer partners your partner has had -- the less likely he or she is to have HPV.

It is not known how much condoms protect against HPV. 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:. HPV vaccination can be started at age 9 years. Children who get the first dose before their 15 th birthday only need two doses.

People who get the first dose on or after their 15 th birthday need three doses. Medications to eliminate warts are typically applied directly to the lesion and usually take many applications before they're successful. Examples include:. If you have an abnormal HPV or Pap test, your gynecologist will perform a procedure called a colposcopy.

Using an instrument that provides a magnified view of the cervix colposcope , your doctor will look closely at the cervix and take samples biopsy of any areas that look abnormal. Any precancerous lesions need to be removed. Options include freezing cryosurgery , laser, surgical removal, loop electrosurgical excision procedure LEEP and cold knife conization.

LEEP uses a thin looped wire charged with an electric current to remove a thin layer of a section of the cervix and cold knife conization is a surgical procedure that removes a cone-shaped piece of the cervix. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. You'll likely start by seeing your primary care provider. Depending on where your warts are located, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the skin dermatologist , feet podiatrist or reproductive organs gynecologist or urologist.

For HPV infection, questions to ask your doctor include:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version. There were about 43 million HPV infections in , many among people in their late teens and early 20s. There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems, including genital warts and cancers.

But there are vaccines that can stop these health problems from happening. You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms. If you are sexually active, you can get HPV, even if you have had sex with only one person.

You also can develop symptoms years after having sex with someone who has the infection. This makes it hard to know when you first got it. In most cases 9 out of 10 , HPV goes away on its own within two years without health problems.

But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area.