Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause clinical or sub-clinical warts on the skin that may itch or burn and can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. HPV appears to be a prerequisite for cervical cancer, though most HPV infections do not lead to cancer. HPV vaccines protect against HPV strains 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancers, potentially preventing 7 out of 10 cervical cancer cases. The vaccines work by generating antibodies to virus-like particles without the viral DNA.