Definition: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that is transmitted through sexual skin-to-skin contact. There are currently more than 100 known strains of the human papillomavirus. About thirty of these strains affect both male and female genitalia, causing conditions like genital warts and more seriously, cancer.
HPV is most commonly associated with cervical cancer, but is also linked to anal cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer, and head and neck cancer. It's role in the development of other types of cancer is being investigated.
