The human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the world. There are over 100 different HPV types. And while most of these are harmless, about 30 types of HPV are spread through sexual contact.

 

Genital warts are an HPV STD. They usually appear as single or multiple bumps in the genital areas of men and women, such as the vagina, cervix, vulva (the area outside of the vagina), penis, and rectum. However, many people who are infected have no symptoms.

 

Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with human papillomavirus. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women will acquire an HPV STD at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired a genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.