The Illinois Department of Public Health said that human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that genital HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.
About 20 million Americans currently have HPV. WomensHealth.gov added that at least half of all sexually active men and women get genital HPV at some point.
Mayo Clinic wrote that there are more than 100 varieties of human papillomavirus and more than 40 different strains that specifically affect the genital area in both men and women.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said most people with HPV don’t develop symptoms. In 90 percent of cases, the body’s immune system clears HPV naturally within two years. When it can’t, HPV can cause genital warts, cervical cancer and other, less common but serious, cancers.
IDPH said genital warts are usually soft, moist, pink, or flesh-colored swellings. They appear flat or raised, single or multiple, small or large, and sometimes cauliflower shaped. They’re found on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh.
The HPV types that cause genital warts aren’t the same as high-risk types that can cause cancers, the CDC said.
The Mayo Clinic said that most cervical cancer is caused by two specific types of genital HPV. Early stages of cervical cancer typically cause no symptoms so it’s important that women get regular Pap tests to detect any precancerous cervical changes.
Genital HPV is contracted through sexual intercourse, anal sex and other skin-to-skin contact in the genital area, said Mayo Clinic.
There’s no cure for HPV, but the CDC reported that genital warts can be removed with medication. Mayo Clinic said surgical procedures include freezing off warts with liquid nitrogen, using electrical current to burn off warts, and surgical removal or laser surgery.
The NIAID warned that the virus is still present in the body, so unfortunately warts can return.
Treatment for abnormal cervical cells, said WomensHealth.gov, includes freezing off abnormal tissue, removing tissue with a hot wire loop, and destroying abnormal tissue with lasers.
To reduce the risk of HPV, the Food and Drug Administration approved two HPV vaccines. The Mayo Clinic said that Gardasil protects against HPV strains that cause most genital warts and cervical cancer. Cervarix protects against cervical cancer but not genital warts.
The CDC recommended both vaccines for girls aged 11 or 12. NIAID reported that Gardasil is for males aged nine through 26.
IDPH advised that in order to eliminate risk for genital HPV, you should refrain from any genital contact with another person. The CDC recommended having monogamous relationships with one partner who has had no or few prior sex partners or limit the number of sex partners. WomensHealth.gov advocated always using condoms and taking care to use them properly.
Sources:
Genital HPV Infection - Fact Sheet. CDC.gov by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer. Cancer.gov by the National Cancer Institute. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Genital Warts. NIAID.gov by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/genitalwarts/Pages/default.aspx
Human Papillomavirus. IDPH.state.il.us by the State of Illinois. Web 29 Jan 2102.
http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbpapill.htm
Human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts fact sheet. WomensHealth.gov by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/human-papillomavirus.cfm
HPV Infection. MayoClinic.com by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Web 29 Jan 2012.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hpv-infection/DS00906
Reviewed January 31, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith