What is HPV?
HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. This is a very common sexually transmitted virus. An estimated 75 percent of the reproductive-age population has been infected with sexually transmitted HPV. A small fraction of men and women with HPV will develop genital warts. Another small fraction of women with HPV will develop cervical changes. Most people will have no changes.
How is it transmitted?
HPV is transmitted sexually through intimate genital to genital contact, including vaginal or anal intercourse or only rarely through oral sex. Transmission can also occur during genital skin to genital skin contact without sexual intercourse.
Does use of condoms reduce the risk of HPV transmission?
Using condoms or latex barriers may provide some protection but may not cover all infected areas.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a very common virus (germ) that causes abnormal cells or growth of tissue on the skin of the body. HPV can cause abnormal tissue changes on the feet, hands, vocal cords, mouth and genital (sex) organs. Over 60 types of HPV have been identified so far. Each type infects certain parts of the body. In gynecology, we are concerned about the types of HPV that infect the female organs.
Where Does HPV Grow?
HPV can grow on the cervix (opening to the uterus), vagina (birth canal), vulva (lips of the vagina), urethra (opening urine comes through) and the anus (opening for bowel movements).
There are two kinds of abnormal tissue caused by HPV: CONDYLOMA (warts) and DYSPLASIA (pre-cancer). Doctors can evaluate you for presence of the abnormal tissue by examining the skin of the vulva and vagina and by doing a Pap smear.
Prevention
There are three ways to decrease exposure to HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Using condoms (rubbers) during sex.
Monogamy - have sex with only one partner. To be effective, monogamy must include both partners and be long term. It is helpful to discuss this with your partner.
Abstinence - not having sex. This does not mean that other forms of closeness need to be eliminated.
****************How are genital warts treated?*******************
Although there is no cure for HPV, there are several treatment methods for genital warts. The severity of infection, the location of the warts, and other factors will influence the decision about which treatment might be best for a patient.
Several treatments, some of which are provider-administered or self-administered, are available. Genital warts can be chemically burned or frozen with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy). Although these techniques for freezing the warts are effective, they can cause a temporary irritation of tissue. Some cases of genital wart infection are treated by applying caustic chemicals to the infected area. More than one application is usually needed. Most of these treatments must be repeated several times, sometimes over several months. All methods of treatment have high failure rates. Therefore, reexaminations sometimes are recommended, even after the warts seem to go away. Genital warts cannot be effectively treated with any over-the-counter preparations.
What is my health status once the warts are removed?
Even after warts are treated and removed, a person may still be infected with HPV. In some cases the warts can grow back. As stated previously, in 70-90% of people, HPV is a transient infection. Transient means that the body will clear the infection on its own, within approximately two years, based on current research.
Also a good thing to keep in mind, there are only a few strains of HPV that cause genital warts. Some strains can lead to cervical cancer - so it's extremely important to stay regular with your yearly pap smear, since that's the way to detect those abnormal cells.
In my case, I have the strain that caused those abnormal cells, and earlier this year I had a biopsy taken to confirm the HPV, then a cryosurgery treatment to remove the offending cells.
I go back for another pap this November to make sure they're gone. But just like the article above states - HPV does not go away. There is no cure.
Heres is two good sites you may want to check out :
i had not ever heard of this so i googled for you hope this of some help
http://obgyn.uihc.uiowa.edu/Patinfo/Adhealth/hpv.htm
http://www.indiana.edu/~health/hpv.html
What is HPV?
HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. This is a very common sexually transmitted virus. An estimated 75 percent of the reproductive-age population has been infected with sexually transmitted HPV. A small fraction of men and women with HPV will develop genital warts. Another small fraction of women with HPV will develop cervical changes. Most people will have no changes.
How is it transmitted?
HPV is transmitted sexually through intimate genital to genital contact, including vaginal or anal intercourse or only rarely through oral sex. Transmission can also occur during genital skin to genital skin contact without sexual intercourse.
Does use of condoms reduce the risk of HPV transmission?
Using condoms or latex barriers may provide some protection but may not cover all infected areas.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a very common virus (germ) that causes abnormal cells or growth of tissue on the skin of the body. HPV can cause abnormal tissue changes on the feet, hands, vocal cords, mouth and genital (sex) organs. Over 60 types of HPV have been identified so far. Each type infects certain parts of the body. In gynecology, we are concerned about the types of HPV that infect the female organs.
Where Does HPV Grow?
HPV can grow on the cervix (opening to the uterus), vagina (birth canal), vulva (lips of the vagina), urethra (opening urine comes through) and the anus (opening for bowel movements).
There are two kinds of abnormal tissue caused by HPV: CONDYLOMA (warts) and DYSPLASIA (pre-cancer). Doctors can evaluate you for presence of the abnormal tissue by examining the skin of the vulva and vagina and by doing a Pap smear.
Prevention
There are three ways to decrease exposure to HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Using condoms (rubbers) during sex.
Monogamy - have sex with only one partner. To be effective, monogamy must include both partners and be long term. It is helpful to discuss this with your partner.
Abstinence - not having sex. This does not mean that other forms of closeness need to be eliminated.
****************How are genital warts treated?*******************
Although there is no cure for HPV, there are several treatment methods for genital warts. The severity of infection, the location of the warts, and other factors will influence the decision about which treatment might be best for a patient.
Several treatments, some of which are provider-administered or self-administered, are available. Genital warts can be chemically burned or frozen with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy). Although these techniques for freezing the warts are effective, they can cause a temporary irritation of tissue. Some cases of genital wart infection are treated by applying caustic chemicals to the infected area. More than one application is usually needed. Most of these treatments must be repeated several times, sometimes over several months. All methods of treatment have high failure rates. Therefore, reexaminations sometimes are recommended, even after the warts seem to go away. Genital warts cannot be effectively treated with any over-the-counter preparations.
What is my health status once the warts are removed?
Even after warts are treated and removed, a person may still be infected with HPV. In some cases the warts can grow back. As stated previously, in 70-90% of people, HPV is a transient infection. Transient means that the body will clear the infection on its own, within approximately two years, based on current research.
Also a good thing to keep in mind, there are only a few strains of HPV that cause genital warts. Some strains can lead to cervical cancer - so it's extremely important to stay regular with your yearly pap smear, since that's the way to detect those abnormal cells.
In my case, I have the strain that caused those abnormal cells, and earlier this year I had a biopsy taken to confirm the HPV, then a cryosurgery treatment to remove the offending cells.
I go back for another pap this November to make sure they're gone. But just like the article above states - HPV does not go away. There is no cure.