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WHAT IS HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV)?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common causes of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, also known as sexually transmitted illnesses, STIs). More than 100 different types of HPV have been identified. Most of them are harmless. About 30 types are spread through sexual contact, the rest by other means. 

Some types of HPV cause genital warts, which are bumps on the skin in the genital areas of men and women including the vagina, cervix, vulva, penis, and rectum. Many people infected with HPV do not have warts or other symptoms. Click your Back button to read the article on Genital Warts.

There are high-risk and low-risk types of HPV. High-risk HPV can cause abnormal Pap smears, and may lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. Low-risk HPV also may cause abnormal Pap results and/or genital warts.

Experts believe that, in the United States and probably other nations, there are more cases of genital HPV infection than any other STD. Over 5 million new cases of sexually transmitted HPV infections are reported every year, and at least 20 million people in this country are already infected.

Some types of HPV cause common skin warts, often found on the hands and soles of the feet. Fortunately, these types of HPV do not cause genital warts.

Like many STDs, genital HPV infections often do not have signs and symptoms that you can see or feel. One study reported that almost half of women infected with HPV had no obvious symptoms (were asymptomatic). If you are infected but have no symptoms, you can still spread HPV to your sexual partner and/or develop complications from the virus.

HOW IS HPV DIAGNOSED?

Your health care provider usually diagnoses genital warts visually (by seeing them). If you are a woman with genital warts, you also should be examined for possible HPV infection of the cervix. If you have an abnormal Pap smear result, it may indicate the possible presence of cervical HPV infection. A laboratory worker will examine cells scraped from your cervix under a microscope to see if they are cancerous.

HOW IS HPV TREATED?

HPV has no known cure. There are treatments for genital warts, and they often disappear even without treatment. Although treatments can get rid of the warts, none get rid of the virus. Because the virus is still present in your body, warts often come back after treatment.

HOW CAN HPV INFECTION BE PREVENTED?

The only way to prevent getting an HPV infection is to avoid direct contact with the virus. It is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. If you or your sexual partner has visible warts in the genital area, you should avoid any sexual contact until the warts are treated.

It is not known if male latex condoms prevent transmission of HPV, but studies do suggest that using condoms may reduce your risk of developing diseases linked to HPV, such as genital warts and cervical cancer. Many people who don’t have symptoms don’t know that they can spread the virus to an uninfected partner.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OF HPV

Cancer

Some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. Other types are associated with vulvar cancer, anal cancer, and rare cancer of the penis.

Most HPV infections do not progress to cervical cancer. If you are a woman with abnormal cervical cells, a Pap test will detect them. If you have abnormal cervical cells, it is particularly important for you to have regular pelvic exams and Pap tests so you can be treated early, if necessary.

Pregnancy and Childbirth

HPV-related genital warts may cause a number of problems during pregnancy. Sometimes they get larger during pregnancy, making it difficult to urinate. If the warts are in the vagina, they can make the vagina less elastic and cause obstruction during delivery.

Once in awhile, infants born to women with genital warts develop warts in their throats (laryngeal papillomatosis). It is a potentially life-threatening condition for the child, requiring frequent laser surgery to prevent obstruction of the breathing passages. Experimental medications may slow the course of the disease.

RESEARCH

Scientists are doing research on two types of HPV vaccines. One type would be used to prevent infection or disease (warts or pre-cancerous tissue changes). The other type would be used to treat cervical cancers.

July 2004