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HPV is a group of over 100 infections, with about 30% being sexually transmitted diseases. Some forms of HPV cause cervical cancer, and there is no cure. The only way to test for HPV is through a PAP smear, and caution with sexual partners is recommended. Lack of access to proper care and counseling leads to misinformation about the risks of sexual contact. Scientists are working on better diagnosis methods and a possible vaccine.
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a group of more than 100 infections that are often symptom-free. About 30% of this group are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) who result in contact from an infected partner. You cannot prevent HPV by using condoms, as the virus can be present on the skin surrounding the genitals.
HPV has recently received a great deal of attention because it is now known that some forms of HPV cause all forms of cervical cancer. HPV is often not noticed by infected people. In some cases forms of HPV will result in genital warts which may be present on the genitals or around the anus, but often HPV has no symptoms or symptoms that are so insignificant that they are ignored by those infected.
HPV has no current cure. Oral medications can cause warts to temporarily resolve. However, like herpes, warts can also recur and need to be removed at a later date. The real goal of treatment is to make the patient aware of the potential risks associated with HPV, since most diagnoses occur in the presence of an abnormal PAP smear.
The PAP is part of what should be an annual gynecological exam for women. It takes a small amount of tissue from the cervix, which is then examined by a laboratory to determine if there are any abnormal cells. Sometimes the abnormal cells occur only once and never come back. In other cases, future Pap smears will show the continued spread of abnormal cells indicating cervical cancer.
When genital warts are not present, PAP is the only way to test for HPV. There is no test for men, which is a shame, as HPV can also cause penile cancer. In the absence of available tests, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend caution with sexual partners. They suggest that if one chooses to be sexually active, they should do so with a long-term monogamous partner.
If you have multiple partners, you increase your risk of getting HPV. If a partner is aware that you have had genital warts or an abnormal Pap smear in the past, it is right to tell any potential partner to reduce the risk to them. Unfortunately, one cannot be certain that a potential partner does not have HPV as testing methods are limited.
The risk of sexually transmitted HPV is further spread by ignorance. Sexually active teenagers tend not to realize that any kind of contact with another person’s genitals can transmit HPV and that most STDs can be transmitted without having sex. Lack of access to proper care and counseling in case an adolescent becomes sexually active usually leads adolescents to be misinformed about the risk of any type of sexual contact.
As HPV is now indicated in a severe type of cancer, scientists are actively working for better methods for diagnosing HPV. There is also research into a possible vaccine at a future date. For now, the medical community is exerting its efforts to educate the public about HPV so that women are sure not to skip the recommended annual gynecological exams. The CDC also recommends that everyone who has genital warts or who has had contact with someone with HPV talks to their doctors.
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