Sexually Transmitted Human Papillomavirus

This review presents the epidemiology , pathophysiology , prevention, and management of sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) and its associated diseases . HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Prevalence varies regionally. Low-risk strains cause anogenital warts , which can be managed with patient- or provider-applied therapies . High-risk strains cause lower anogenital cancers. Primary and secondary prevention strategies include vaccination and screening for precancerous lesions, respectively. Management of abnormal screening results vary by test result, anatomic site, and individual cancer risk. Approaches include close rescreening, high-resolution visualization with biopsy, and—when biopsy-proven precancer is identified—removal or destruction of the lesion.