While HPV infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer, in reality it is very rare for HPV infection to progress to cancer with proper treatment. 60 to 80 % of CIN 1 dysplasias resolve on their own, and only about 1% of cases progress to invasive cervical cancer.
Studies suggest as many as 80% of people will aquire genital HPV. Several estimates have placed the lifetime likelihood of exposure to HPV in the range of 75-90% though most will not show symptoms.
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a complex DNA based virus capable of infecting the skin or mucous membranes of Humans. Certain types of HPV are responsible for common warts, genital warts as well as cervical abnormalities. In rare cases cervical abnormalites can manifest themselves into cervical cancer. HPV can be transmitted through contact with the skin of an infected person. Over 30 types of HPV are transmitted via sexual contact. Most commonly HPV tpes 6 and 11 are responsible for genital warts. "High Risk" HPV types, including types 16 and 18, can lead to cervical cancer though this is rare with proper treatment. Infection with most HPV types causes no visible symptoms. Because of this, infection with HPV is very common. Recent estimates have placed the lifetime likelyhood of infection with gential HPV in the range of 75%.