10 Things We Bet You Didn't Know About HPV

Decades have passed since the human papillomavirus (HPV) was first identified as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) capable of causing cancer. Yet many myths and misconceptions about the disease continue to exist.

Here are 10 facts you might not know about the most common STI in the United States:

1. More than 150 strains of HPV have been identified

HPV is a class of viruses that includes more than 150 strains.

High-risk cancer-causing HPV strains have been identified as the following: HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66 and 68, according to the National Cancer Institute. The majority of all HPV-related cancers are caused by two strains: 16 and 18.

2. Neanderthal sex may be responsible for one HPV strain

In 2018, a Brooklyn, New York, geneticist discovered that HPV 16, the strain linked to cervical, anal and oropharyngeal cancers, most likely originated thousands of years ago when one of our homo sapien ancestors had sex with a Neanderthal.

3. It's not a matter of if but when a sexually active person will get HPV

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 80 percent of women and 90 percent of men will contract a strain of HPV over the course of their lifetime. The CDC has gone as far as to state, "HPV is so common that almost every sexually active person will get HPV at some point if they don’t get vaccinated."

An estimated 79 million Americans have been infected with one or more HPV strains. Another 13 million are expected to be diagnosed with HPV annually, according to the CDC.

4. HPV can spread via skin-to-skin contact

A person doesn't have to be "doing the deed" to get an HPV infection. HPV can spread via vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected person. While rarer, it can also spread through close skin-to-skin contact during sex, the CDC states.

Even if an infected person isn't showing obvious signs or symptoms, that person can still pass along the HPV infection to an intimate partner.

5. If you've had HPV before, you can get it again

So you've had HPV and you think you're in the clear? You're not. There are more than 150 strains of HPV, so even if you've been infected by one, five or even 20 strains, odds are you haven't been exposed to all of them. It's best to err on the side of caution.

6. HPV causes cancer in men and women

At least six different types of cancer have been linked to HPV infections, states the National Cancer Institute. Cancers of the vulva, cervix and vagina have been diagnosed in HPV-infected people.

HPV can lead to penile cancer, particularly in uncircumcised men. Men and women infected with HPV are also at greater risk for anal and oropharyngeal cancers.

7. 90 percent of all cervical cancer is caused by HPV

About 90 percent of all anal and cervical cancers are thought to be caused by HPV infections, according to the CDC. Generally, 70 percent of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and more than 60 percent of penile cancers are believed to have originated from an HPV infection.

8. Early detection helps HPV-related cancer outcomes

Prior to the development of the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer was the top cancer killer of people with a cervix. Thanks, in part, to the development of the HPV vaccine and early cervical cancer screening, people with a cervix who are diagnosed early with the disease have a 92 percent chance of surviving five years after diagnosis.

9. HPV-related cancer can be drastically reduced by vaccination

The HPV vaccine, when taken properly, protects against nine HPV strains: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. HPV-related cancer could become a thing of the past if everyone were vaccinated for HPV before becoming sexually active.

The two- to three-dose vaccine is recommended by the CDC for people ages 11 to 26. The CDC states that people up to age 45 may also get vaccinated against HPV. However, the vaccination may be less effective in people who already have HPV infections.

10. HPV-related throat cancer is on the rise in men

Experts estimate the number of cases of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer in men will soon surpass the number of HPV-related cervical cancer cases in women. Cancers of the tonsils, back of the throat and tongue, also known as oropharyngeal cancers, are quickly becoming the No. 1 HPV-related cancer diagnosed in American men.

HPV may be linked to several cancers, but screening and vaccination can help. Speak with your doctor or find a healthcare professional on Giddy Telehealth. With hundreds of doctors in a variety of specialties, it’s easy and convenient to find someone to answer all of your questions.