What is HPV?

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is a very common virus that can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. There are more than 100 types of HPV, which are classified as cutaneous (affecting the skin) or mucosal (affecting mucous membranes). Some types of HPV are sexually transmitted and fall into two main groups: low-risk types, which can cause genital warts, and high-risk types, which are associated with certain cancers, including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, tonsillar, oropharyngeal, rectal, and anal cancers. Other types of HPV can cause common, flat, or plantar warts on other areas of the body.