HPV Welcome to the Affordable Drugs HPV information page. HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. Here you can learn about the HPV virus, HPV infection, HPV symptoms, HPV and genital warts, etc. This information is not intended to replace the professional advice of your physician.
What is HPV? HPV stands for human papillomavirus. More than 100 strains of HPV exist, causing ailments from common warts to genital diseases. Warts are the most frequent symptom of HPV. Common warts generally appear on the hands and feet and can be treated with over-the-counter medications or by a physician. Plantar warts grow inward on the soles of the feet, frequently causing pain. Plantar warts usually require removal by a physician.
Often, however, when people refer to HPV, they are referring to the genital HPV infection. Genital HPV is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects both men and women. Human papillomavirus infects mucous membranes and skin and can take the form of benign genital warts or, in worst cases, can lead to a variety of cancers, including cancers of the anus, cervix, penis, vagina and vulva.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV is the most common STD, in part because most people with the virus do not develop symptoms and are unaware that they are infected. More than 40 types of HPV that affect the genital area and can be spread through sexual contact have been identified. Types are considered either "low risk" or "high risk" depending on whether or not they can cause cancer. High risk types lead to cancer, while low risk types can be harmless.
Some strains cause genital warts, which appear as small bumps or clusters of bumps in genital areas. These strains of the virus are low risk and do not lead to cancer.
Cancers caused by high-risk strains usually show no symptoms until the cancer is advanced. However, the percentage of people who develop cancer from high-risk strains is low. In about 90 percent of all cases of HPV infection, regardless of the risk level of the strain, an infected person's immune system will clear the human papillomavirus infection from the body naturally within two years.
There is no cure or treatment for an HPV infection, only treatment for symptomatic warts.
How can HPV be prevented?
HPV can be prevented in a number of ways. As with any STD, the most effective prevention is sexual abstinence. For sexually active individuals, the risk of contracting HPV is reduced by limiting the number of sexual partners, and condoms also can decrease the chances of infection. HPV can be present on genital areas not covered by a condom, however.
A vaccine is now available for women to protect against the strains of HPV most commonly responsible for cervical cancer and genital warts. The vaccine is recommended for girls as young as 11 up to age 26. Regular Pap test screenings are also recommended for all women. Pap tests can identify abnormalities and changes in the cervix before cells become cancerous.
No vaccine or screening test is currently on the market for males.
HPV Symptoms (Human Papillomavirus) Human Papillomavirus, more commonly known as HPV, is an extremely common sexually transmitted disease. It is estimated that approximately half of all sexually active people will become infected with HPV at one point or another. This is particularly alarming because symptoms of HPV are often very subtle, especially among males, and therefore go unnoticed much more often than they should. Whether or not symptoms can be noticed is entirely dependent upon the type of HPV infection. Because more than 100 types of HPV are known to exist, it is vital that people be informed of the potential red flags that are indicative of HPV symptoms. The following is an aggregation of HPV symptoms for which every sexually active person should check regularly.
Genital warts are a common symptom of less serious HPV infections. Genital warts are unique growths that vary in size, color, and texture. Therefore, any new growth appearing on the cervix, scrotum, penis, anus, groin, or thigh should be examined by a licensed medical professional as soon as possible. In women, such warts are likely to occur most frequently on the vulva. In men, genital warts are more prevalent on the penis and scrotum, and may also appear near and around the anus.
Because HPV infections can cause certain cellular changes, HPV symptoms include precancerous lesions. Such lesions are often detectable through a Pap test. These lesions are classified as either low-grade or high-grade. Such symptoms of HPV that are designated as low-grade are usually able to resolve themselves, thereby reverting to their original cellular states, without treatment. High-grade lesions are less likely to resolve themselves without treatment, and can lead to different types of cancer. Other, less common, such symptoms of HPV include similar lesions that form in the upper respiratory tract. These HPV-related lesions can occur in the nose, soft palate, larynx, tonsils, and tongue.
The most severe effects and symptoms of HPV include different types of cancer. Cancers of the cervix, penis, vulva, vagina, and anus can result from HPV infection. Unfortunately, these cancers do not generally show any symptoms until the disease has advanced. Symptoms of cervical cancer include irregular vaginal bleeding, including bleeding between menstruation periods and unusually heavy menstrual discharge.
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer related to HPV, as almost all instances of cervical cancer are the result of an HPV infection. Because these symptoms of HPV can easily go unnoticed until they are in advanced stages, it is extremely important for sexually active individuals to get screened regularly. This is especially true for cervical cancer screenings among sexually active females.
In order to properly diagnose potential HPV symptoms, it is important for sexually active women to have regular Pap tests. A Pap test is the most reliable method for detecting an HPV infection; a detection that could potentially prevent cervical cancer. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women begin yearly Pap test screenings either three years after first becoming sexually active, or at age 21.
HPV Warts HPV warts or genital wars are a type of very contagious infection that is transmitted sexually. It is usually caused by some various sub-types of human papillomavirus. HPV warts are spread through direct skin on skin contact during anal, oral, or genital sex with a person that is infected. HPV warts are the most easily identified type of sexually transmitted disease because they are one of the few that show visible marks on the skin as a result of infection while most infections have more subtle, chemical consequences. HPV warts can also be the cause of several varieties of cervical cancer which is around 90% of all anal cancer cases. Genital warts most often occur in small clusters that can be small or can be spread into larger masses in the genital area. In some less frequent infections, they look like small stalk-like protrusions. In women, genital warts occur on the outside areas and on the inside of the vagina such as the cervix, the uterus, and around the anal cavity. Men and women are generally diagnosed with genital warts at the same ratio, though women's cases often appear more on the surface. In men, genital warts can be seen around or on head of the penis though they can also be seen on the scrotum or the anus and the stem of the penis. In the cases in which oral sex is by a non infected person on an infected person, some of these warts can then appear in the mouth and in the throat. The viral particles are able to infiltrate the surface of the skin and the mucous surfaces to create microscopic cuts in the genitals which normally occur during intercourse. Once the cells are invaded by HPV warts, a latency period of several months to many years will occur. In this period, no signs of genital warts will ever be presented and a person may go the entire time having sex with multiple partners and passing the virus on. However, in some cases, the virus is not passed during the latency period, though there is no way to tell when it will pass and when it will not. The immune system of the infected will eventually clear the virus out through interleukins which will create interferon's which will slowly halt virus replications.
HPV Cancer Human Papilloma Virus and Cancer The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease with a variety of strains that may cause condylomata acuminate, more commonly known as genital warts. Enduring HPV infections have recently been linked to the development of a wide variety of terminal cancers, and have been recognized as the primary cause of cervical cancer in women, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Recent studies have also revealed a connection between HPV and life threatening cancers of the penis, anus, vagina, and vulva. Oral HPV infections also seem to be associated with a variety of oral cancers which can affect various parts of the mouth and the throat. These oral cancer risks have been determined to be independent of smoking through controlled studies, though tobacco use is still a risky behavior in regards to oral cancers.
There are a number of strains of the HPV of varying degrees of severity. Many are benign and will not actually produce warts or cause cervical cancer, and it is possible to live a very normal life with HPV. Many Americans actually go through life without the knowledge that they have been infected with the virus, which is a frightening thought, because even if the strain they are infected with is benign in their body, if they pass it on to another person, it may react differently or mutate to form a much more malignant strain that could lead to cervical cancer or other forms of HPV cancer. For this reason it is very important that you be tested for HPV, as well as cervical cancer, if you suspect that you may be infected. There are FDA approved and regulated HPV tests for women over thirty years of age that are able to identify a wide variety of strains of HPV and will be able to inform you if you are infected, and whether or not you are infected with a strain with a low risk of cancerous lesions developing or a high risk strain. These tests aid in early detection of HPV cancer risks, and can help you and your doctor plan out a method to fight any risks, such as removing abnormal regions and other preventative treatments.
Remember that you will likely be able to lead a normal life after being diagnosed with HPV, especially if you are tested regularly and familiar with the strain that you are carrying. Knowledge is the best weapon to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV cancer from plaguing you.
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