HPV Complications
The most serious potential complication of HPV infection is cancer. But most HPV types aren’t known to cause cancer, and most cases of any HPV type are cleared by the body within two years.
HPV is believed to cause over 90 percent of cases of cervical and anal cancer, about 70 percent of cases of vaginal and vulvar cancer, and about 60 percent of cases of penile cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While oropharyngeal cancer has traditionally been linked to using tobacco and alcohol, more recent studies show that 60 to 70 percent of these cancer cases may be linked to HPV.
Overall, the CDC estimates there are 37,000 cases of cancer in the United States each year that are linked to HPV, with about 21,500 cancer cases related to HPV in women and 15,500 related to HPV in men.
Cervical Cancer
Since the ‘70s, the mortality rates for cervical cancer have declined by more than half due to efforts in early screening and prevention.
Even though cervical cancer is now almost entirely preventable, the American Cancer Society estimates that, for 2025, there will be 13,360 new cases of invasive cervical cancer recorded and about 4,320 deaths.
Most cases of invasive cervical cancer are found in women who have not had regular screening tests. While the typical age range for a cervical cancer diagnosis is 35 to 44, more than 20 percent of cases are diagnosed in women over age 65.
Oral Cancer
Oropharyngeal cancer develops on the back and sides of the throat, tonsils, and base of the tongue.
About 12,500 cases of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer are diagnosed in men in the United States each year, compared with about 2,300 cases in women.
The rate of oropharyngeal cancer linked to HPV has increased greatly in recent decades. This form of oropharyngeal cancer is more common in younger people with a history of multiple sex (including oral sex) partners but no history of tobacco use or heavy alcohol use.
It’s believed that people get oral HPV from oral sex, although why men develop HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer so much more than women is not known.
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