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For more information on HPV -American Social Health Association -National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases -My Partners Page 
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What is HPV?
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is now one of the most common but unknown viruses amongst sexually active men and women of all different ages. HPV includes more than a 100 different strains or types of viruses, 30 of them being sexually transmittable. It can affect the genital area of both men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), or anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, or rectum. One of the most important things you should remember about HPV is that many people who become infected with HPV do not have any symptoms so it is very important that you get checked regularly. Statistics - Approximately 20 million people are currently infected wth HPV. - 75% of sexually active men and women will acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lifetime. - 80% of women will have acquired genital HPV infection by age 50. - About 5.5 million Americans will get a new genital HPV infection each year. - HPV will infect more people every year than any other STD. - Between 28% and 46% of woman under the age of 25 are infected with HPV. Facts about HPV - "High Risk" types of HPV may cause abnormal Pap test and may lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. - "Low Risk" types of HPV may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts. - Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms. - Some people who do become infected will clear the infection on their own. - Research has shown that for most women, cervical HPV infection becomes undetectable within two years. - Rarely a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during a vaginal delivery. - About 10 of the 30 sexually transmitted viruses of HPV types can lead to development jof cervical cancer. - Not everybody becomes infected even if they have a sex with an infected person. Detection The HPV virus lives in the skin or mucous membranes and usually causes no symptoms, there for the best way of detection is to get checked regularly. With regular Pap testing and careful medical follow-up, with treatment if necesary, can help ensure that pre-cancerous changes in the cervix caused by HPV infection do not develop into life threatening cervical cancer. A Pap test is the primary cancer-screening tool for cervical or pre cancerous changes in the cervix, many of which are related to HPV. There are also specific test that are available to detect the HPV DNA in women. Not always will a regular pap test actually test for the HPV virus. Depending on your doctor, you may need to request a HPV test. Genital Warts Genital Warts is one of the effects that is caused by the HPV virus. It usually appears as soft, moist, pink or flesh-colored swellings, usually in the genital area. They can be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large and sometimes cauliflower shaped. They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. After sexual contact with an infected person, the warts may appear within weeks or months and sometimes not at all. Genital Warts can be removed by medications that the patient applies, or by treatments performed by the doctor. No treatments for genital warts is beter than another, and no one treatment is ideal for all cases. In some cases the patient may choose to not take any kind of treatment to see if the warts will disappear on their own. Prevention The best way to prevent any STD is abstanance. For those who choose to be sexually active, should always use a condom. If you are in a long term, mutually monogamus relationship with an uninfected partner it will most likely prevent future genital HPV infections. However it is difficult to determine whether a partner who has been sexually active in the past is currently infected. For those who are not in a monogamus relationship, reducing the number of sexual partners may also help reduce the risk of contracting the HPV virus. Created By: Jaelyn Odani |