Understanding the causes of human papillomavirus (HPV) is key to preventing infection and reducing long-term health risks. HPV is not caused by one factor. Instead, several behaviours and conditions increase the chance of infection.
How HPV Spreads
Most commonly, the causes of human papillomavirus involve skin-to-skin contact during sex. This includes vaginal, anal, and oral sex, as well as close genital contact. A person can spread the virus even without symptoms.
HPV spreads easily because it does not need penetration. Even short genital contact can transmit the virus. A single sexual encounter can be enough to get infected. Condoms lower the risk, but they do not block it fully. The virus thrives in moist genital areas, making unprotected sex a major cause.
Sexual Behaviour and Risk
Early sexual activity is one of the main causes of human papillomavirus spread. People who start having sex at a young age face higher risk because they have more lifetime exposure. The risk also grows with more sexual partners. But even one partner can transmit HPV if they carry the virus from a past relationship.
Another reason for the spread is lack of screening and vaccination. In places without HPV vaccination or regular cervical checks, infections stay common. Many people do not know they are infected. Education and easy healthcare access help control HPV rates.
Biological and Lifestyle Factors
The causes of human papillomavirus are not only sexual. A strong immune system usually clears the virus in one to two years. But if the immune system is weak—due to HIV, certain medicines, or illness—HPV can stay in the body longer. This makes cancer more likely.
Smoking also raises risk. It weakens immune function and harms cervical cells, making it easier for HPV to persist. Smokers are more likely to develop severe cervical changes than non-smokers. Smoking does not cause HPV directly, but it makes the infection harder to fight.
Hormonal birth control may also play a role when used for many years. It might affect cervical tissue and immunity, creating better conditions for the virus to stay. This does not mean contraceptives cause HPV, but they can make infection last longer.
Poor genital hygiene and other STIs increase risk as well. STIs like chlamydia or herpes can cause sores or inflammation, making HPV entry easier. Having multiple infections also strains the immune system, reducing its ability to fight HPV.
Rare Transmission and Lack of Awareness
HPV can spread without sex, but this is rare. A baby can get HPV during birth if the mother is infected. This may lead to a condition called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), where warts grow in the airway. HPV can also survive on surfaces, but this route is very rare.
Lack of awareness is another major issue. Many people do not know they have HPV because it often causes no symptoms. They may keep having unprotected sex or skip vaccination and screening. Stigma and myths make this worse, stopping people from seeking help.
Men also play a big role in spreading HPV. They often have no symptoms and rarely get screened. This silent spread leads to rising cases of throat and anal cancers in both men and women.
Summary
The causes of human papillomavirus are many. They include unprotected sex, multiple partners, early sexual activity, weak immunity, smoking, lack of vaccines, and poor public health measures. Fighting HPV needs a combined effort: sex education, vaccines, regular screening, and reducing stigma.
Next, we will look at the symptoms of human papillomavirus and how they appear in different people.
