Human papillomaviruses (HPV): How can you be infected and what consequences can that have?

Human papillomaviruses, or HPV for short, are so common that most men and women will become infected at some point in their lives. HPV infections usually remain unnoticed. But some types of HPV can cause harmless warts. And certain types increase the risk of some kinds of cancer, especially cervical cancer. There is an HPV vaccine.
Papillomaviruses are viruses that can cause inflammation and changes in the skin. Some of them only infect humans, which is why they are called human papillomaviruses (HPV). They probably get into the skin and mucous membranes through small cuts or wounds and then multiply inside the cells.