Hpv or human papillomavirus results in infections affecting the skin along with the mucous membranes which are moist. Hpv causes warts including plantar and genital warts and in some cases it can also result in cervical cancer. There are in excess of 100 hpv types and these can be passed on by direct skin contact including sexual contact with an infected person.

Hpv causes infection and problems in as many as 70% sexually active women and men. These men and women may suffer from at least one infection caused by hpv during their lifetime. Hpv types include low risk types and also high risk types that can result in cancers. Different conditions are caused by the different types of hpv.

Hpv causes conditions like skin warts. These are also called flat warts, common and planter warts and these are caused by the low risk form of hpv. These warts may be observed in areas of the face, feet, arms, legs and hands. They are rather common among children. Genital warts are caused by the hpv type 6 and 11 viruses and these are also among the low risk forms.

Hpv causes some other problems like cervical dysplasia and this result in abnormal cells within the woman’s cervix. The lesions are precancerous and cancer cells may be formed later. Normal hpv infection resolves in time but cervical dysplasia needs to be treated as it can result in cervical cancer.

Hpv causes cervical cancer and the high risk forms of hpv are responsible for this condition. The high risk types include hpv 16 and 18 types. Around 70% of all cancer cases are caused by these types. These types also cause penile along with anal cancer. A major proportion of hpv infections are harmless.

Hpv infections causing genital warts are quite contagious and these are contracted by sexual activity with individuals who are infected. The virus normally enters a body through a break within the skin and then successfully infects cells in the skin. Once a person is infected the lesions may appear weeks or months after the infection. In some cases a pregnant woman may transmit the virus to her newborn child through vaginal delivery.