Hpv: Human Papilloma Virus

HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. HPV is the most common family of viruses and the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are more than a hundred types of the HPV virus. HPV has sixty cutaneous types and forty mucosal types. The cutaneous types can create skin warts. The mucosal types are divided into low risk and high risk. Low risk types (particularly 6 and 11) can cause cervical cell abnormalities, genital warts and respiratory papillomatosis. For low risk types, the cervical cell abnormalities usually do not lead to cancer. High-risk types (particularly 16 and 18) can cause cervical cell abnormalities, pre- cancerous lesions, certain anogenital cancers, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers.

Genital HPV infections are very common among sexually active individuals.

At any time, about 20 million people have a genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million new infections each year. Seventy four percent of new infections occur among young people age 15-24. HPV infection occurs throughout the world. Humans are the only natural reservoir of HPV but can affect other species, such as rabbits and cows. There are no temporal patterns. The communicability is presumed to be high during acute and persistent infection.

HPV is spread through any kind of sexual activity involving skin-to-skin genital contact with an infected person -- intercourse isn't necessary. May also may be transmitted nonsexual but is very uncommon. An example would be a transmission from a woman to a newborn baby at time of birth.

People with HPV may not show any signs or symptoms for years or at all, so they can pass the virus on without knowing it. This makes it difficult to know when people became infected, how long they have been infected and who passed the infection to whom.

Factors that could contribute to HPV infections and cancers are smoking, multiple sexual partners/sexual behaviors, sexual intercourse at an early age (before 25 years old), weakened immune system or HIV infection.

Genital warts (condylomata acuminata) are unsightly cauliflower-like growths. They are soft, moist or flesh colored, and appears in the genital area within weeks or months after infection. Sometimes appear in clusters and are raised or flat, small or large. In women, genital warts can appear on the vulva, urethra, cervix, vagina, anus or thighs. In men, warts can appear on the penis, scrotum, anus or thighs. Genital and anal warts are very contagious and are spread during oral, vaginal or anal sex with an infected partner. High-risk types of the HPV virus are linked to cervical cancer as well as cancers of the penis, of the anus and other cancers. Almost 100% of cervical cancer cases will be caused by one of the 40 HPV types. HPV also believed to be responsible for 90% of anal cancers, 40% of vulvar, vaginal, penile cancers and 12% of oral and pharyngeal cancers.

High-risk types of HPV do not usually cause any symptoms. Most women feel fine even when they have cell changes in their cervix that can lead to cancer. Possible symptoms are abnormal bleeding,