Human papillomavirus (HPV) can appear almost anywhere on the body. The most common places are the mouth, anus and genitals where moist mucous membranes exist. Some common symptoms are warts, small, large, white, beige or brown skin growths and even several different types of cancer. There are over 100 different types of HPV, each with its own area to invade. Some cause small, painless warts with a rough surface found on the fingers and face. Others cause larger, more painful, flatter warts that grow on the soles of the feet. More than 25 different types of HPV can infect the skin covering the sexual organs, the cervix, and the opening of the anus. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay Genital HPV infections are very common and up to 80% of sexually active adults will get an HPV infection of the genital area at some point in their lives. lives. In most cases, these infections do not cause symptoms, but in a small number of women they cause changes to the cervix that can become cancerous if left untreated. They can also cause genital warts which affect about 1 percent of sexually active people. HPV is also linked to cancer of the penis, vulva, anus, and vagina. HPV is transmitted through sexual contact. Most infected people have no symptoms, are unaware they are infected, and may unintentionally transmit the virus to a sexual partner. Pregnant women rarely pass HPV to their babies during a vaginal delivery. Most people infected with HPV have no symptoms, but some get visible warts or have precancerous changes on the cervix, vulva, anus, or penis. Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and eventually go away as the body's defense system eliminates the virus. Women with temporary HPV infections may develop mild Pap test abnormalities that disappear over time. Certain types of HPV are considered high risk and can lead to certain cancers, such as cervical cancer and cancer of the vulva and vagina. Other low-risk types of HPV cause genital warts. They are called low risk because they are unlikely to cause cancer. The only sure protection against HPV infection is a lifelong relationship with an uninfected partner. Other ways to protect yourself are the use of condoms and other barrier methods such as dental dams. However, a new vaccine called Gardasil can now protect women against certain types of HPV. This vaccine was approved in 2006 and has been proven to protect against 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts caused by HPV. There is no vaccine for men yet. If infected with HPV, some treatments are available once the disease has progressed to warts. There are over-the-counter ointments, lotions, and dressings to help remove or slow the growth of warts. If over-the-counter treatments fail, you can freeze the warts or cauterize them with electricity. In some cases, the application of strong medications such as acids or podophyllum, a poison from a plant, is necessary. Without treatment, about half of common warts disappear on their own within 6 to 12 months. Others may.