Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted infections in the world. There are more than 100 different types of HPV most of which are harmless. About 30 types are spread through sexual contact and are classified as either low or high risk.
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Although HPVs are usually transmitted sexually, doctors cannot be sure of when infection took place. Most HPV infections occur without symptoms and go away way any treatment over the course of a few years. However, HPV infection sometimes continues for many years with or without casing cell abnormalities.
Some types of HPV may cause genital warts to appear on or around the genitals of men and women. These are considered low-risk types. Warts may appear within several weeks after sexual contact with a person who has HPV or they may take some months to appear or not appear at all.
High risk types of HPV may cause abnormal pap smear results which could lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus or penis.
HPV infections usually do not show any symptoms if you are infected and show no symptoms you can still spread HPV to your partner or develop complications from the virus.
HPV infection and cancer
HPVs are now considered the major cause of cervical cancer. Worldwide about a half a million women are diagnosed each year with cervical cancer and about a quarter million lives are claimed buy it.
Recent studies have also shown that HPVs may play a role in cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina and some cancers of the oropharynx. Other studies also suggest that HPV infection is a risk factor for penile cancer.
HPV types that are more likely to lead to the development of cancer are referred to as "high-risk". However both high risk and low risk types of HPV can cause the growth of abnormal cells but generally the high risk types of HPV may lead to cancer.
Sexually transmitted high risk HPVs include types, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51,52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 69 and possibly a few others. These high risk types cause growths that are usually flat and heart invisible as compared with the warts caused by types HPV-6 and 11.
However, it is important to note that most high risk types infections may go away on their own and do not cause cancer.
Risk factors for HPV infection and cervical cancer
Having many sexual partners is a risk factor for HPV infection. Although most HPV infections go away on their own without causing any type of abnormality, infection with high-risk HPV types increases the change that mild abnormalities will progress to more severe abnormalities or cervical cancer.
However, of women who develop abnormal cell changes only a small percentage would develop cervical cancer if the abnormal cells were not removed.
Risk factors that may increase the risk of cervical cancer in women who are infected with HPV include smoking and having many children.
How is HPV diagnosed?
If you are a woman with genital warts you should be examined for possible HPV infection. HPV infection will be diagnosed based on results from an abnormal pap smear, a cancer screening tool for cervical cancer or pre-cancerous changes of the cervix.
In some cases a small piece of tissue will be taken from the cervix to be examined under microscope.
There is also a FDA approved HPV test which looks for viral DNA and is performed by collecting cells from the cervix and then sent to be tested in a laboratory. This test can detect high risk types of HPV even before there are conclusive visible changes to the cervical cells.
There are currently no tests approved to detect HPV infection in men.
Can HPV be prevented?
The best way to prevent HPV infection is to avoid genital contact with another person. If you are sexually active and in a long term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner this will also reduce your risk of becoming infected.
However, it is difficult to determine whether a partner who has been sexually active in the past is currently infected.
It is not known how much protection condoms provide against HPV infection because areas not covered can still be infected by the virus. Although the effect of condoms in preventing HPV infection is unknown condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer and HPV associated disease.
In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gardasil, a vaccine that is highly effective in preventing persistent infection of HPV types 16 and 18, high risk HPVs that cause about 70% cervical cancers and types 6 and 11 which cause 90% genital warts.
Treatment for HPV infection
There is currently no cure for HPV infection however, the warts the virus causes can be treated.
Treatment options include: cryosurgery (freezing that destroys tissue), laser treatment, electrocautery (burning), surgery and prescribed medication.
Although treatment can get rid of warts it cannot get rid of the virus because the virus is still in your body warts often come back after treatment.
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