Diseases Caused by HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) comes in more than 100 types that can infect people, and thirty of them are types that you can get through sexual contact. Although there is a vaccine called Guardasil that can prevent some diseases caused by HPV, it is not recommended for everyone and does not eliminate your chance of getting other types of HPV. According to the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine, HPV can cause diseases including warts and certain types of cancer.

Mouth Sores

• If you are infected with HPV through oral sex, you may develop sores or lesions in your mouth, throat and on your lips and tongue.

Genital Warts

• On women, HPV can cause warts around the genital area as well as inside the vagina and on the cervix. If you are male, you may develop warts on your penis or anus.

Body Warts

• Varieties of HPV that are not sexually spread may cause you to get warts on your hands, feet or anywhere else on your body through skin contact with an infected person.

Fetal Disorders

• If you have HPV during pregnancy, your baby can develop warts inside the mouth, throat and pharynx, resulting in serious difficulties breathing after birth.

Gynecological Disorders

• Women who have HPV infections may develop cervical dysplasia, which is an change in the cells of your cervix and shows up as abnormal results during a Pap smear.

Cancer

• Depending on the type of HPV and how you were infected, you may develop cancer of the vagina, cervix, penis, anus, esophagus or oral cavity.