What is hpv?

What is HPV?

HPV stands for Human papillomavirus. It is a viral infection that includes more than 100 different strains, at least 40 of which are sexually transmitted. They can infect both women and men, including the skin of the vulva, penis, anus, and the lining of the vagina, cervix or rectum.

How common is it?

Genital HPV infections are common in sexually active individuals. In fact, it is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. Most HPV infections go away on their own.

How is HPV transmitted?

HPV is common in sexually-active men and women. It can be transmitted via skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity, sharing contaminated sex toys and, rarely, delivery from mother to baby. When transmitted, it is usually through a cut, abrasion or small tear in your skin. 

Risk factors for HPV

The number of sexual partners you have, the more likely you are to contract a HPV infection. Having sex with someone who has multiple sex partners also increases your risk.

Age. Common warts occur mostly in children. Genital warts occur mostly in adolescents and young adults.

Weakened immune systems. This could mean HIV/AIDS or those taking immune system-suppressing drugs. 

Damaged skin. Areas of skin that are punctured are more prone to develop common warts.

Personal contact. Touching someone's warts or not wearing protection before contacting surfaces that have been exposed to HPV, such as public showers or swimming pools, may increase your risk of HPV infection. 

Smoking. Cigarette smoking has been found to increase the risk of cervical cancer and its immediate precursor (CIN 3) among women infected by HPV. Therefore if you have HPV your doctor may recommend that you quit smoking. 

High-risk strains

Most HPV infections go away on their own without any treatment however sometimes the HPV can persist and cause abnormal changes to the cells. These cells may develop into cervical cancer over the course of many years. 

Some HPV types are high-risk because they have the potential to cause cervical cancer. There are around 40 high risk strains including strains 16 and 18. 

Low-risk strains

Low risk HPV types may cause mild pap test abnormalities or genital warts. HPV strains 6 and 11 are responsible for about 90% of genital warts. Other HPV strains may even infect the skin of the fingers, hands or face. 

Signs and symptoms of HPV

Most HPV infections do not have signs or symptoms. However some may cause finger, hands, face or genital warts. Please note warts are contagious from person to person and through common surfaces that have made contact with a wart. 

Symptoms of cervical cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding or changes in the smell or color of vaginal discharge. In any of these cases, it is best to consult your OBGYN. 

For a detailed description and visuals of different types of warts, please check out this Mayo Clinic article. Please note the visuals may be unsuitable for those unprepared and unwilling to examine sections of male and female genitalia: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hpv-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20351596 

What happens if I have HPV?

Being infected with HPV DOES NOT MEAN you have or will have cancer. If you have HPV, please work with your doctor to understand your best course of treatment. 

Can HPV be treated?

Often the body can clear HPV on its own. When it doesn't, treatment is directed at HPV-associated conditions such as pre-cancerous lesions, cancers or genital warts.

Regular cervical screening tests will detect changes in the cervical cells caused by HPV infection or to identify and monitor high-risk HPV strains. 

Pre-empting HPV

Go for regular cervical cancer screening (pap smear) as it is the most effective way to detect abnormal changes. Your regular screenings can occur every 1-3 years.

Get the HPV vaccination. Consult your doctor about if you are a good candidate for the vaccine. Even if you have the vaccination, it is still important to go for regular pap smears as the inoculation only protects against 70-90% of high-risk strains.

Resources:

https://depts.washington.edu/homehpv/clinician/hpv.shtml

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/701/faqs-on-hpv-and-hpv-immunisation

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hpv-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20351596

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920639/