Know About HPV Facts!

HPV, called as human papilloma virus is a most common infection nowadays.

There are more than 100 types of HPV. Studies showed that more than 80% of the population is infected with HPV at some point in their life.

Among 100, 30 various strains of HPV are considered as sexually transmitted ones.

Some of these strains can lead to genital warts. These strains can also affect the skin outside the vagina and the lining of cervix and rectum.

What are the symptoms and possible health consequences of HPV?

People with HPV can not develop any symptoms or health problems. But sometimes, certain HPV types can cause genital warts.

Some others can cause cervical cancer and other less common cancers such as uvular and vaginal cancer. HPV types that trigger genital warts are not the same that cause cancer.

Often, HPV types can be categorized as low-risk or high-risk types. Low-risk HPV types cause warts and high-risk HPV types cause cancer. 90% of HPV cases can get rid of the infection within two years. This is true for both low-risk and high-risk types.

Here are the most common symptoms of HPV:

Genital warts: In the genital area, small bumps or groups of bumps begin to appear. Warts can be raised or flat, small or large, single or multiple and sometimes in cauliflower shape.

Warts can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina, or on the cervix. Usually, warts develop within few weeks or months after the sexual contact with an infected person or they may not appear at all.

If the warts left untreated, they may disappear, left unchanged, or rise in size or number, but they won’t become cancerous.

Cervical cancer: You won’t experience any symptoms until the cancer reaches its advanced stage. So, it is essential for you to get regular screening for cervical cancer.

Some other rare HPV related cancers, such as cancers of vagina and vulva also won’t cause any symptoms to appear until the cancer reaches its advanced stage.

How does HPV infection transmit?

HPV transmits through genital contact, usually during vaginal and anal sex. Most of the infected people can not realize that they are infected and passing the virus to the sex partner.

In rare cases, pregnant woman with HPV can pass the infection to her baby during vaginal delivery. During these cases, the child can have warts in the throat or voice box. This condition is called as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

How HPV causes genital warts and cancer?

HPV infection causes normal cells on the areas of infection to turn abnormal. Most of the cases, you won’t observe or feel these changes. During many instances, your body naturally fights against the HPV and the infected cells become normal.

How common is HPV infection?

About 20 million Americans are now infected with HPV and every year 6.2 million people become newly infected. Throughout the world, 440 million people are diagnosing with this condition.

Sexually active adults can most often get this infection at any time.

How to prevent HPV infection?

HPV vaccine can prevent women from four types of HPV that cause genital warts and cervical cancer. Usually, this vaccine is recommended for 11 and 12 years old girls.

Sexually active women can prevent the risk of HPV by using condoms. Also, condoms can lower the risk of HPV related infections like cervical cancer and genital warts. Sometimes, HPV can infect the areas that are not covered by condoms. The only way to prevent HPV is by completely avoiding the sexual contact.

What are the tests for detecting HPV?

Visual inspection can only detect genital warts. Vinegar solution can be used to recognize flat warts.

Pap test is considered to identify cervical cell abnormalities. HPV test can also recognize the high-risk HPV types on your cervix.

How to treat HPV?

Till now, there is no treatment for the virus. Healthy immune system can naturally fight against the infection. Here are some treatments for HPV infection:

• Genital warts can be treated by using medications or by applying ointments.


• Cervical cancer can be treatable if it is detected and treated during the early stages.


• Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are various treatment options you can consider.