Guest Author - Maria Hester, M.D.

Human Papilloma Virus, also known as HPV is a sexually transmitted virus. As a matter of fact, HPV infection is the most frequently diagnosed STD in America. It has been associated with visible warts in the genitals as well as cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis and anus.

How is HPV spread?
As mentioned above, human papilloma virus is a sexually transmitted virus which infects the outer layer of the skin and mucous membranes. It is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact, including sexual intercourse and even hand-to-genital contact.

Is there more than one type of HPV virus?
Yes. There are over 70 different types identified to date and each one has a predilection for a specific body area.

What does HPV do to the body?
Unlike common bacterial STDs, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, HPV does not commonly lead to sterility. However, certain strains are associated with a high risk of developing cancer of the cervix. As a matter of fact, researchers commonly label the various HPV types as being high or low risk for causing cancer of the cervix.

What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms include genital warts which you can see and feel. Fortunately, most strains that cause genital warts are associated with a relatively low subsequent risk of development of cervical cancer. Human papilloma virus types 6 and 11 are strongly associated with genital warts, while types 16 and 18 are strongly associated with cervical cancer.

While most women with genital warts do not experience any symptoms, some experience symptoms such as tenderness, itching, or burning in the region of the warts.

What is the time period from infection to development of warts?
HPV warts may appear anywhere from weeks to over a year after initial exposure to the virus.

How are genital warts diagnosed?
In many cases, a health care provider can simply look at the infected genital region and make the diagnosis (when warts are visible). In other cases the doctor may need to use a magnifying device to visual the infected areas.

How are warts treated?
Genital warts can be treated in a variety of ways, including topical treatments, laser treatments, and surgical treatments.

How can infection with HPV be prevented?
There is a vaccine called Gardisil which has been shown to help prevent infection with certain types of HPV virus, including types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Therefore, many cases of genital warts and cervical cancer may be prevented. Please note, however, that this vaccine does not protect against other STDs, such as the virus that causes AIDS.


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