Genital Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is a virus that infects the skin and mucus membranes. Most people who develope HPV do not know they have it.
There are over 40 types of HPV, some of which can cause genital warts and some of which can cause cervical cancer. The type that causes genitial warts (low risk) is not the same as the type that causes cervical cancer (high risk).
According to the CDC the body's immune system clears the HPV infection naturally within 2 years in 90% of cases. This is true for both low and high risk HPV.
If a high risk HPV infection is not cleared by the immune system it can linger many years and turn abnormal cells into cancer over time. About 10% of woman with high risk HPV on their cervix will develp long-lasting HPV infections that put them at risk for cervical cancer.
The HPV vaccine protects females from the four types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers and genital warts. It is recommended for 11 - 12 year old girls, and may also be given to girls / youn woman aged 13 - 26 year old.