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HPV can be passed from one person to another by skin-to-skin contact, such as occurs with sexual activity. Chronic, or long-lasting infection, especially when it’s caused by certain high-risk HPV types, can cause cancer over time. But sometimes, the infection doesn’t go away. In most people, the body is able to clear the infection on its own. Common high-risk HPV types include HPV 16 and 18. Doctors worry more about the cell changes and pre-cancers linked to these types, because they’re more likely to grow into cancers over time. Other types of HPV are called “high-risk” because they can cause cancer. Because these HPV types rarely cause cancer, they are called “low-risk” viruses. Women may also have warts on the cervix and in the vagina. Some types of HPV can cause warts (papillomas) on or around the genitals and anus of both men and women. HPV is divided into 2 main groups: Low-risk HPV types Genital HPV is not the same as HIV or herpes. The HPV types found on mucous membranes are sometimes called genital HPV. Mucous membranes are the moist surface layers that line organs and parts of the body that open to the outside, such as the vagina, anus, mouth, and throat. Other types are found mainly on the body’s mucous membranes. Most HPV types cause warts on the skin, such as on the arms, chest, hands, or feet. Each virus in the group is given a number, which is called an HPV type. HPVs are a large group of related viruses.