Human papilloma virus, or HPV, is the name of a group of viruses comprising over 100 different strains discovered to date, 30–40 of which affect our reproductive tract. Transmitted through sexual contact, these strains can infect the genital area of men and women, including the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), and anus, as well as the linings of the cervix, vagina, or the rectum.
Like the unrelated herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores, human papilloma virus is so widespread that the majority of men and women carry some form of HPV, but most don’t know it — a well-functioning immune system does a great job keeping the virus in check until something in their life triggers an eruption, often many years later. One estimate even suggests that by the age of 50 approximately 80% of women have acquired some strain of the HPV virus. So we could say that it’s just part of being human.
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Hi Anon,
Human papilloma virus, or HPV, is the name of a group of viruses comprising over 100 different strains discovered to date, 30–40 of which affect our reproductive tract. Transmitted through sexual contact, these strains can infect the genital area of men and women, including the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), and anus, as well as the linings of the cervix, vagina, or the rectum.
Like the unrelated herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores, human papilloma virus is so widespread that the majority of men and women carry some form of HPV, but most don’t know it — a well-functioning immune system does a great job keeping the virus in check until something in their life triggers an eruption, often many years later. One estimate even suggests that by the age of 50 approximately 80% of women have acquired some strain of the HPV virus. So we could say that it’s just part of being human.
A dormant high risk HPV result, means that for many years, a certain high risk strain was in your body-- but it remained in a dormant state up until recently. For more information, please read: http://www.womentowomen.com/understandyourbody/tests/abnormalpapsmearsandhpv.aspx
I hope this helps!
Rosa
June 15, 2012 - 8:10amThis Comment
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