HPV/Genital Warts

HPV stand for Human Papilloma Virus a name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types.

These viruses produce warts on the hands, feet, and genital sex organs.

Some types may cause genital warts and are low-risk types.

13 types of HPV that are linked with cervical cancer.

Some types may cause cell changes that sometimes lead to cervical and certain other cancers. These are high-risk types. They do not usually have visible symptoms.

Other types seem to have no harmful effect at all.

20 million people in the U.S. currently have HPV

About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year

Between 10 and 15 million have high-risk types that are associated with cervical cancer

At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives

HPV is so common that about three out of four people have HPV at some point in their lives, but most people who have it don't know it

Reproductive Organs Affected

Approximately 40 types of HPV can infect the genital area

Women

• Vulva, vagina, cervix, rectum, or anus

Men

• Penis, anus, rectum, or scrotum

Transmission

• HPV is passed on through skin to skin contact not the exchange of bodily fluid
• Transmitted through sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, or anal) with an infected partner
• Rarely a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery

Signs/Symptoms

Most people who have a genital HPV infection do not know they are infected

The virus lives in the skin or mucous membranes and usually causes no symptoms.

• Some people get visible genital warts, or have pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, vulva, anus, or penis.
• Genital warts usually appear as soft, moist, pink, or flesh-colored swellings, usually in the genital area.
• They can be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large, and sometimes cauliflower shaped.
• They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh.
• After sexual contact with an infected person, warts may appear within weeks or months, or not at all.

Treatment

• There is NO "cure" for HPV infection, although in most women the infection goes away on its own
• Sometimes they need to be removed
• Warts can be removed with various treatments such as chemicals that can be applied directly to genital warts

Prevention

• The surest way to eliminate risk for genital HPV infection is to refrain from any genital contact with another individual.
• HPV infection can occur in both male and female genital areas that are covered or protected by a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not covered.
• Cannot be entirely prevented by condom use since a condom may not cover all infected areas, even correct and consistent use of latex condoms cannot guarantee protection from HPV.