What is high risk HPV?

High-risk HPV is a strain of HPV that causes abnormal cell changes and can lead to genital cancers. According to WebMD, two strains of high-risk HPV, types 16 and 18, cause 70 percent of all cervical cancers.

There are 100 strains of HPV, or human papillomavirus. Most people get at least one strain in their lifetime, but most won't know since many strains do not cause symptoms. Some HPV strains, such as six and 11, cause genital warts. Women ages 20 to 24 who have multiple sexual partners, especially if their partners have other partners, are most at risk for contracting HPV.