Human papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV, human genital
papillomavirus, is a viral infection. There are over 100 different types,
including about 30 sexually transmitted types.
What are the symptoms?
In most cases, there
are no symptoms. Many people have HPV and don't know about it. Some people may
have genital warts on the penis, scrotum, labia, vagina, cervix, or anus.
Can HPV cause other problems?
Most people infected
with HPV feel well and do not even know they are infected. HPV can cause
genital warts, which may return after treatment. HPV can cause pre-cancerous
cells to appear on the cervix, leading to abnormal Pap smears.
It can also lead to
cancer of the cervix, lips, anus, or penis. There is no cure, which means that
once infected, the infection can remain for life. The good news is that the
body's natural immune system gets rid of the infection.
However, this can
take months or even years. Even if there are no visible symptoms, it can still
be passed on to another person.
How is it transmitted?
HPV is transmitted
through genital skin-to-skin contact, which most of the time occurs during
sexual activity, including oral, anal, and vaginal sex. It can be passed on
even if someone doesn't have symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
HPV can be diagnosed
by a doctor.
Diagnosed in one of
the following ways:
- Pelvic exam looking for warts
- Pap smear of the cervix to look for pre-cancerous/cancerous cells
- Biopsy (removing a piece of tissue) of warts, cervix, or other genital areas
- The liquid-based Pap test is significantly more effective for detecting abnormal cervical cells than the conventional Pap smear. For the liquid-based Pap test, your doctor will put the collected cells into a liquid, rather than smearing them onto a slide.
This preserves more
cells and minimizes blood, mucus and inflammation. Most doctors agree that a
liquid Pap smear is recommended for women who have or are at risk of HPV
infection.
This screening is
recommended for women over 30 who are at increased risk of chronic HPV
infection turning into precancerous cells.
Men can be carriers
and carriers of HPV infection without even showing symptoms. There is currently
no test to detect it in men.
What is the treatment for HPV?
There is currently no
cure for HPV infection for people whose immune systems cannot destroy the virus
on their own. Warts can be treated or removed with chemicals, freezing,
cauterization, laser, or surgery.
Researchers believe
that cervical cancer is directly related to HPV. There are over 100 different
types, including about 30 types that are sexually transmitted and can
eventually lead to cervical cancer. HPV causes about 70% of cervical cancers,
but most women treated for HPV do not develop cervical cancer.
Most precancerous
cells in the cervix can be treated with freezing, burning, laser, or surgery.
If the abnormal cells have turned into cancer, they can be treated with
surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. With proper screening,
cervical cancer is preventable and preventable.
Can HPV be prevented?
There are only two ways
to prevent HPV. First, refrain from sexual contact of any kind. The second is a
long-term monogamous relationship, such as marriage, with someone who has had
no other sexual partners.
There is no scientific evidence that condoms significantly reduce the risk of contracting genital HPV.