Types of HPV

The human papilloma virus, or HPV, is a virus that infects the skin cells and causes them to grow irregularly by mutation. These mutations are in the form of warts or tiny tumors, hence the name ‘papilloma’. So far, medical science has identified at least 70 different types of HPV, and investigative research has now indicated the number could be as high as 200 types of active HPV.

Research has proven that women are at a higher risk than men to contract the various types of HPV, and much more within the genital variety. Similarly, homosexual males are also at a higher risk of getting genital type of HPV infections than heterosexual men.

Among the types of HPV, there are non-sexual transmits, besides that of the higher types of HPV in the sexual transmit types. The non-sexual HPV types usually cause common skin warts and appear on the arms, hands, legs, or the feet. The non-sexual HPV infections are at most cosmetic (very inconvenient and unattractive), but still common and harmless. This type of HPV does not cause cancer and can often be easily treated with over-the-counter medications. Even without treatment, this type of HPV infection will clear itself within a few years.
In contrast to the non-sexual type of HPV, the sexually transmitted HPV has a much higher rate of infection statistics. They are the most common and almost thirty different varieties of HPV types are at work causing the infections and warts. The medical name for these warts is ‘condylomata acuminatum’, with reference to their clustered cauliflower-like appearance. Many people seem to get infected with the genital wart virus during an early sexual experience and the virus can remain dormant for a long time while continuing to be contagious.
In males, genital warts may appear on the scrotum, anus, penis and thighs. In females, they can appear on the thighs, anus, vulva, urethra and cervix. In both sexes, they can also appear in the mouth and throat.

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