Yes. Some strains of HPV can cause cervical, throat, vulvar, anal and penis cancers. HPV, or Human Papillomavirus, is a viral STI.
HPV is the most commonly spread STI in the world. Approximately 75% of people who are having sex will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime. There are over 100 strains for HPV. Low-risk strains of HPV, which can cause genital warts, often go away on their own. Higher-risk strains of HPV can cause cancer.
Many people who get HPV will not even realize it, since most types of HPV cause no visible signs or symptoms. HPV is very contagious and can be spread by skin-to-skin contact in the genital area or during genital, anal, or oral sex.
You can reduce your risk by getting the HPV vaccine, limiting your number of sexual partners, and using a condom and/or dental dam. If you have a cervix, a pap exam can screen for abnormal cells in your cervix from HPV that could lead to cervical cancer. All people can visit their health care provider or sexual health clinic for a health exam, which can look for genital warts and/or other signs of cancer in the genital, anal, or oral areas.