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Types of HPV

More than 100 different types of HPV have been identified, and at least 30 of them can be transmitted sexually. The symptoms (if any) a person experiences, as well as the associated conditions that may develop, depend on the type of HPV a person is infected with. A vaccine is available to help protect women against high-risk types of HPV (which can lead to cervical cancer).

 

Types of HPV: An Overview

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a group of viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes. HPVs are now recognized as one of the major causes of cervical cancer (see HPV and Cervical Cancer). But there are over 100 different types of HPV and a number of other diseases that HPV infections can cause.
 
Over 30 types of HPV are transmitted sexually, making HPV the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD).
 

Types of HPV and Associated Conditions

Most people infected with HPV never develop any symptoms. But there are a number of conditions that can result from an HPV infection. The following table lists some of these conditions along with their associated HPV type.
 
Disease
HPV Type
Plantar warts
1, 2, 4
Common warts
1, 2, 4, 26, 27, 29, 41, 57
Flat warts
3, 10, 27, 28, 41, 49
6, 11, 30, 40-45, 51, 54
Cervical cancer
16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58
Precancerous changes
16, 18, 34, 39, 42, 55
Laryngeal papillomas
6, 11, 30
  
(Types of HPV Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD