Abstract: Human papillomavirus（HPV） can infect mucosa and skin，which causes benign or malignant lesion. HPV infection of genital mucosa is the most common mucosa infection, while there are specificities of genital HPV infection in pregnant women. The mother-to-fetus or mother-to-newborn HPV transmission （vertical transmission） may occur in the HPV-infected pregnancy, which is considered to cause fetal abnormality, spontaneous abortion, premature birth, etc. The ways of HPV vertical transmission include the direct contact with infected cells of vagina and cervix during birth，and the transmission by placenta and so on. More studies showed that sperm and oocyte could be infected by HPV, and that embryonic development could be affected seriously. Therefore it is also reasonable that the HPV-negative mother occasionally delivers an HPV-positive baby. It is necessary to study further the effects of the HPV-infected pregnancy on the pregnant outcomes, and embryonic and children′s health.

Key words: Papillomavirus infections, Pregnancy complications, infectious, Disease transmission, vertical, Mothers, Embryonic and fetal development