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.

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