HPV

There are well over a hundred different types of HPV of which most are relatively harmless – with different strains causing the common or flat warts as well as those irritating plantar warts in the feet. However, there are some types that put you at risk for getting genital warts with other types that can put you at risk for cancer. These more serious types of the human papilloma virus affect the genitals and as you contract the virus through sexual contact with an infected partner, they are regarded as a sexually transmitted disease. The human papilloma virus is actually considered to be the most common STD. At least 50% of sexually active men and women get genital HPV at some time in their lives.

Many people who become infected with the HPV virus never go on to have any symptoms. The virus remains hidden in the epidermis. Some will even clear the HPV infection through their body’s own immune response. But others will develop genital warts.

What is the difference between the high-risk and low-risk types of HPV?

The genital HPV virus can be classified as either low risk or high risk. The low risk HPV can cause the genital warts while the high risk HPV can lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva vagina and anus in women. HPV rarely causes serious health problems in men, with the exception of anal cancer in men who have sex with men. There is no test for HPV in men but it is just as common in men as in women.

Both high risk and low risk types of genital HPV can cause changes or growths on the tissue of a woman’s cervix and these growths are usually flat and invisible.

High risk types of HPV can cause cell changes that lead to cervical cancer over time, if such cell changes are left untreated. Often these high risk HPV go away on their own. However some high risk HPV persist and become a factor for cervical cancer. Regular Pap smear tests will pick up such changes so that treatment can be commenced.

Low risk types of HPV can cause genital warts which can appear within weeks or even years after sexual or skin to skin contact with an infected person. In women, these genital warts can grow inside and around the outside of the vagina, on the vulva, the cervix, the groin and in and around the anal area. In men, genital warts can grow on the penis, scrotum, thigh, groin or in and or around the anus.

Although rare, genital warts can even grow in the mouth or throat of someone who has had oral sex with an infected person.

The size of genital warts caused by the human papilloma virus can be so small that they are almost invisible. Others will cluster together. Some may be completely painless while others cause itching, burning and discomfort.

Can HPV be treated?

At the moment, there is no treatment or cure for HPV but there are plenty of different treatment options for genital warts and there is treatment for any changes that HPV can cause on the cervix in women.

In addition and very recently, a vaccine has come on the scene which can be used to protect both male and females from an early age against certain strains of the HPV virus. This is very good news and of course there will be ongoing research for even better vaccines as well as treatment and cures for the HPV virus too.