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Ten Facts About Genital HPV

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Signs & Symptoms

A majority of people with HPV never develop symptoms or health problems. In 90% of all cases, the body’s immune system clears the virus naturally within two years. However, certain types of HPV cause genital warts, which appears as a small bump or a group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. Warts can appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person. Photo: Getty Images

Transmission

Most often, HPV is transmitted during vaginal and anal sex, but can also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. It can be passed on between heterosexual and same-sex partners, even when the infected person shows no signs or symptoms. Most infected individuals do not realize they are infected or that they are transmitting the virus to a sexual partner. In rare instances, a pregnant woman with HPV can pass the virus to her baby during delivery. In this situation, the baby develops warts in the throat, which can sometimes block the airway and cause breathing difficulties. Photo: Getty Images

Risk of Cervical and Other HPV-related Cancers

Other types of HPV can cause cervical cancer and less common, serious cancers, like cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and head and neck including tongue, tonsils and throat. Cervical cancer usually does not have symptoms until it is quite advanced. These other HPV-related cancers might not have signs or symptoms until they are advanced and hard to treat. The types of HPV that causes genital warts are not the same as the types that cause cancer. There is no way to know which people who contract HPV will develop cancer. For this reason, it is important for women to get regular screenings for cervical cancer and for men and women to know the signs of all HPV-related cancers. Photo: Getty Images

Effect of HPV on Cells

HPV causes normal cells on the infected skin to turn abnormal. In most cases, a healthy immune system can fight the virus and the infected cells return to normal. But, in cases when the body cannot fight the virus, genital warts and cancer develop. Warts can develop within weeks or months after contracting HPV. However, cancer can take years to develop after being infected. Photo: Getty Images

Incidence in the United States

According to the CDC, HPV is so common that 50% of all sexually active men and women get it at some time in their lives. Approximately 20 million Americans are currently infected with the virus. At any one time, one percent of sexually active adults in the U.S. have genital warts. Each year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer; 37,000 women get vulvar cancer; 1,000 women are diagnosed with vaginal cancer and 1,000 men get penile cancer. Annually, 2,700 women and 1,700 men are diagnosed with anal cancer. Though HPV is associated with some head and neck cancers, of the 2,300 women and 9,000 men who are diagnosed each year, most cases are related to smoking and heavy drinking. Photo: Getty Images

High Risk Population

Gay and bisexual men and people with weak immune systems, including individuals with HIV/AIDS, are at higher risk for HPV-related health conditions. Photo: Getty Images

Rare Health Condition

Sometimes, but rarely, the types of HPV that cause genital warts can cause warts in the throat. This condition is called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis or RRP. It sometimes blocks the airway, causing a hoarse voice or troubled breathing. Very rarely, a pregnant woman with HPV can pass the virus to her baby during delivery. The baby can develop RRP. The CDC estimated that less than 2,000 U.S. children get RRP every year. Photo: Getty Images

Prevention

Vaccines are available to protect men and women against some of the more common forms of HPV. These vaccines are given in three doses. It is important to get all three injections for the best protection. The vaccines are most effective when given before a person’s first sexual contact. Two vaccines, Cervarix and Gardisil, protect girls and women against the types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. Gardisil also protects against most genital warts and is used to protect males as well. It is recommended that females get the same vaccine brand for all three doses, when possible. Using condoms may lower the risk for HPV, but may not fully protect. To be most effective, a condom should be used with every sex act, from start to finish. It is important to note that HPV can affect areas that are not protected by a condom. People can lower their chance of getting HPV by being in a faithful relationship with one partner, limiting their number of sex partners, and choosing a partner who has no or few prior sex partners. None of these prevention measures offer absolute protection against HPV. Photo: Getty Images

Diagnostic Testing

Currently, there is no general test available to check for HPV or detect the presence of the virus on the genitals or in the mouth or throat. The HPV tests on the market are only used to help screen for cervical cancer. Photo: Getty Images

Treatment

There is no treatment for the virus, but there are treatments for the diseases caused by HPV. Some people choose to treat visible genital warts with medication, while others choose not to treat warts and wait for them to disappear on their own. Cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers are treatable if detected early. RRP can be treated with surgery and medication. Photo: Getty Images

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