Many people don't know what Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, is or what causes it? It's very important to know about different types of infections, so that if you do have one, then you can have it treated very quickly. The scary thing about HPV is that it can cause many types of cancer in men and in women.

If women get HPV they can contract cancer in the cervix, vulva, anus or vagina. If men contract HPV they are more prone to contract cancer in the phallus or anus. Some types of HPV can also cause warts. If you get the type that causes warts, then this type doesn't cause cancer.

There are about 130 types of HPV that have been classified. Some types of HPV are harmless and have no symptoms. For this reason some people have HPV and they don't even know that they have it. About 30 to 40 types of Human Papilloma Virus are sexually transmitted. Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV infections. Genital warts are usually also caused by HPV. Up to 90% of young women that get HPV usually get rid of the infection within a year or two. 

Many doctors stress the importance of yearly pap smears for women because these tests are vital to diagnosing a Human Papilloma Virus very early. A Pap smear is also called a cervical Papanicolaou Test. These tests show very early if a woman has genital warts or any type of abnormal growth in the cervix. With these tests the doctors have greatly decreased cases of cervical cancer and also deaths caused by cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is still very prevalent but Pap smears still help. Part of protecting yourself and staying healthy is to go to yearly doctor appointments for men and for women.

Knowledge is power and it's always a good idea to be informed about infections that can be very harmful to men and to women. Human Papilloma Virus is an infection that could lead to cancer, so having yearly physicals and check ups is very important. Many people don't like to go to the doctor but if going to a doctor can help you live longer and prevent you from contracting a fatal disease, like cervical cancer then you are much more likely to be convinced to go. Taking care of your body isn't just important to your health but also is important to your loved ones.