What is HPV?

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of over 100 viruses of varying strains. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect the genital areas of both men and women. Most people who have HPV will have no symptoms, and they will clear the infection on their own.

Some HPV viruses are called "low risk" types, and they cause mild Pap test abnormalities for women and genital warts in women and men.

"High risk" types have can cause dysplasia (abnormal cell growth) and, in rare cases, can lead to cervical cancer for women and anal or penile cancer in men.

Is HPV Common?

HPV is an extremely common disease.  The virus affects at least 50 percent of sexually active men and women at some point in their lives, and about 6.2 million Americans get a new HPV infection each year. Most people who have the HPV don't know they're infected because the virus lives in the skin or mucous membranes and causes no symptoms.

What are the symptoms of HPV?

All types of HPV can cause mild abnormalities on Pap tests, but most strains do not have serious consequences. Individuals with certain types of HPV will get visible genital warts or have pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, vulva, anus, or penis.
Genital warts are soft, moist, and pink or flesh-colored. They can be flat or raised, small or large, and they're sometimes cauliflower shaped. There may be one or several warts, and they can appear on the in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix or the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. Genital warts may appear a few weeks or months after contact with an HPV-infected person or they may not appear at all. Men and women can be infected with a strain of HPV that causes genital warts but never have warts. 

The presence of pre-cancerous cells (dysplasia) on the cervix indicates the presence of "high risk" HPV infection. About 10 of the 30 genital HPV cases identified are "high risk" and, if ignored, they can lead to cervical cancer.  Women's condition can be monitored through regular Pap tests, medical follow-up and occasionally surgical treatment.
The strains of HPV that cause genital warts do not cause penile, anal or cervical cancer.
How is HPV treated?

There is no cure for HPV, and the infection usually goes away on its own. Treatments are available to treat the virus's effects. Visible genital warts can be treated with chemicals administered by the patient or the doctor.  Cells with dysplasia maaay be removed through surgical procedures like cryotherapy or electric loops.

How can I protect myself from HPV?

The surest way to avoid getting HPV infection is to avoid genital contact with other people. If you choose to be sexually active, the safest way to steer clear of HPV and other STDs is to have a monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. Remember, however, that even if your partner is only having sex with you, he or she may have contracted HPV in the past, and the virus can resurface and infect you.

The exact affect of condoms on HPV transmission is unknown, though we know that the disease can be spread through contact with areas not covered by condoms. Condom use has, however, been linked to a lower rate of cervical cancer, one HPV-associated disease. Condoms also have been shown to reduce the risk of HIV and some other STDs if they are used correctly every time you have sex.

Isn't there a vaccine for HPV?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a HPV vaccine for use in girls and women ages 9 - 26 years. The vaccine is given through a series of three shots given over a 6-month period and costs about $360 for the series. (Some insurance companies cover the vaccine, while others don't.)

The vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing diseases caused by four types of HPV: pre-cancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina, and genital warts.

The vaccine is most beneficial for women who have not yet been exposed to any HPV strains, though women who have been exposed to one of the strains can be protected against the others. The vaccine does not treat existing HPV infections, genital warts, pre-cancers or cancers.
Because the vaccine does not prevent all types of HPV, sexually active women should continue to get regular Pap smears and medical screenings.

The vaccine has not yet been approved for men or for women over the age of 26, and it is not yet known whether women receiving the vaccine now will need boosters in a few years.

To find out more about HPV, check out the Centers for Disease Control web site, www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/default.htm, or ask your doctor.

To read about the HPV vaccine, go to www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm.