Sexually Transmitted Infections

Human Papillomavirus ( HPV ) / Genital Warts

The Human Papillomavirus (pap a LOW mah virus) or HPV is a large family of viruses containing over 60 types. Many produce warts on fingers, hands and face, warts that are only a nuisance. Other strains can cause genital warts, or lead to cervical dysplasia, which are irregular cells on the cervix that can lead to a precancerous or cancerous condition. The strain of HPV that causes genital warts is not the same as the one that causes common warts. Genital warts can appear on the cervix, vulva (external female genitals), in or around the vagina or penis, on the scrotum, in or around the anus/rectum, on the groin (where genitals meet the inner thigh), or in the eye or eyelid, nose, mouth or throat (from oral sex transmission). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States