HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that may cause genital warts and cervical cancer. High-risk HPV strains are linked to most cervical cancer cases. Testing positive for HPV may indicate an increased risk for cervical cancer.
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted virus that may cause genital warts and cervical cancer.
HPV strains are classified as high or low risk, depending on their potential to cause cancer.
While most HPV infections do not cause disease, high-risk HPV types, such as HPV 16 and HPV 18, have been linked to more than 70 percent of all cervical cancer diagnoses.
If a woman tests positive for HPV, it may indicate an increased risk for developing cervical cancer.