HPV: The Virus You Didn’t Know You Might Have

What is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)?

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted infection among those who are sexually active and unvaccinated. There are about a 100 types.

Who is at risk of contracting HPV?

  • Men and women who are sexually active and not vaccinated against HPV.
  • Men and women who have skin to skin or genital to genital contact during oral, vaginal and anal sex.
  • Men and women who have multiple sexual partners

Who does HPV affect?

While both men and women can contract the virus, men are majorly carriers and only a few might suffer from penile, scrotal or anal warts which usually clears out on their own. However, this virus is able to cause pre-cancerous changes of the cervix in women.

Symptoms of HPV infection

Usually, this infection shows no symptom except for noticeable warts in some individuals.

What are genital warts?

  • They are fleshy, rough growths on the skin similar in appearance to a skin tag but are very itchy
  • It usually affects the skin in the genital area
  • Can appear several weeks, months or years after the initial infection
  • It usually caused by HPV types 6 and 11 which means that having a genital wart does not mean that you have contracted the strain that can cause cancer.

How does this infection now turn to cervical cancer?

The virus or the infection does not directly lead to cancer. Of all types of HPV, only a few causes changes to the cells of the cervix while some causes warts. It is these changes that eventually lead to cancer if they are not adequately treated. This process can take several years.

What conditions can aid the progression of HPV infection to cervical cancer

  1. Weakened immune system/ long term use of corticosteroids
  2. Persistent infection with HPV type 16 and 18
  3. Having multiple sexual partners
  4. Advanced age
  5. Smoking

What type of HPV can cause cervical cancer?

Types 16 and 18

How you do know if you already have an infection from these dangerous types of HPV?

Doing a Pap smear test: This helps to detect precancerous changes to the cervix

HPV test: This helps to detect if you have contracted any of the dangerous types of HPV

Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA): This test uses an acid to check for abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

Colposcopy: This is the use of an lighted instrument to view and take some cells from the cervix for testing in the laboratory. This is usually done for women who had abnormal Pap smear or VIA result

When and how often should you get tested?

You should start testing from age 21 especially if you are sexually active and every 3 years.

How can you reduce your risk of contracting HPV?

  1. Get vaccinated against HPV
  2. Ensure regular testing for HPV and precancerous cells
  3. Practice safe sex
  4. Get treated if you have been diagnosed of HPV and abstain from sex and inform your sexual partners to get tested and treated if need be

What other types of cancer does HPV cause apart from cervical cancer?

  1. Anal cancer
  2. Penile cancer
  3. Throat cancer
  4. Vaginal cancer
  5. Vulvar cancer

Now, you see why you should get vaccinated?

 

 

 

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