Overview of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the genital tract is usually asymptomatic and transient, but can be reactivated after years of dormancy by skin trauma (eg from scratching or shaving) or immune compromise.

HPV genotypes that cause genital infection are divided into high-risk (oncogenic) and low-risk genotypes. The low-risk HPV types 6 and 11 cause more than 90% of genital warts (condylomata acuminata) and have not been directly associated with cancer. Persistent infection with high-risk genotypes can lead to intraepithelial neoplasia and in some cases, anogenital cancers.

Inform patients that HPV infection is transmissible by genital-to-genital contact, and that HPV types that cause genital warts have not been directly associated with cancer.