The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus of the family Papillomaviridae. There are about 200 different papillomavirus genotypes; some are transmitted by skin contact and infect the skin, while others are sexually transmitted and are responsible for, among other things, 99% of cervical cancers.

Some strains affect the skin and others affect the mucous membranes. The former are involved in plantar warts or on the hands for example while the second group is responsible for genital warts or certain cancers, such as cancer of the cervix, in the most serious cases. Forty strains are considered responsible for genital problems, 15 have been found in cases of cervical cancer. These are not usually the same strains that are responsible for genital warts and cancers.

The different genotypes can be classified according to their skin or mucosal tropism and the location of tumors, cutaneous, oral, nasal or genital. Some genotypes are associated with cancers, these are the so-called HPVs with high oncogenic risk. Other HPVs are at low risk of cancer, because infection with these viruses evolves exceptionally to cancer. Cervical cancer is mainly due to persistent infection with HPV16 or HPV18. The type in question varies according to the regions of the globe.