HPV is the most commonly acquired STD. There are over 100 different types of HPV infections that occur in humans. Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears. In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 1 to 2 years. In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated.
There is a lot is mis-information out there and our knowledge about HPV infections is changing rapidly. A small proportion of HPV infections do persist but the idea that a person who has had an HPV infection is never clear of HPV is just plain wrong.
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HPV is the most commonly acquired STD. There are over 100 different types of HPV infections that occur in humans. Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears. In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 1 to 2 years. In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated.
There is a lot is mis-information out there and our knowledge about HPV infections is changing rapidly. A small proportion of HPV infections do persist but the idea that a person who has had an HPV infection is never clear of HPV is just plain wrong.
August 22, 2012 - 7:24amThis Comment
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