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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, with over 100 types. Most people show no symptoms, but some strains can cause genital or throat warts, while others can lead to cancer. Prevention and screening are key, with vaccines available for women and condoms reducing risk. The only way to avoid the virus is to abstain from all sexual contact.
Of all sexually transmitted infections, human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all sexually active people will eventually contract the virus. It is mostly transmitted through genital-to-genital contact, but can also be transmitted through oral sex.
There are more than 100 types of human papillomaviruses, and most strains cause no obvious problems. Most people who have human papillomavirus will not experience any symptoms, but those with certain low-risk strains could develop genital warts or even throat warts. These warts initially appear as small bumps or groups of bumps and can appear within weeks or months of contracting the virus.
Individuals who have a high-risk strain of the virus could develop cancer of the cervix, vulva, anus or penis. Human papillomavirus is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 12,000 women in the United States develop cervical cancer each year.
As of 2010, there was no readily available test to determine whether or not one had human papillomavirus. For women, there is a test that is used for follow-up after an abnormal Pap smear result that can identify some of the high-risk and carcinogenic strains of the virus. There is no diagnostic test for men, so many may have no idea they have one.
Human papillomavirus has no cure, but those with the wart-causing strains can have the lesions treated or removed. There are also some external medications to treat genital warts. For women who have the cancerous strains, screening in the form of Pap smears and pelvic exams can help identify the infection so any problems can be treated early. Cervical cancer is highly treatable if caught early or in the precancerous stages. In many cases, treatment isn’t necessary, because the immune system may clear the infection within a year or two.
Prevention and screening are key when it comes to human papillomavirus. As of 2010, there were two vaccines available for women to protect themselves from the virus. One vaccine, Gardasil®, protects against both low-risk and high-risk strains. Gardasil® can also be administered to males. Condoms might also reduce the risk of virus transmission, but the virus could still infect areas not covered by a condom.
One of the biggest risk factors for contracting human papillomavirus is having many sexual partners. However, even an individual who has only one sexual partner in her life can still contract the virus. The only absolute way to avoid the virus is to abstain from all sexual contact.
