Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

HPV stands for human papilloma virus and is the most common sexually transmitted infection; it is also the virus that causes cervical cancer. Approximately 80% of women will be infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime. This is a very common problem.

In the 1980’s, scientists discovered that HPV causes cervical cancer. In 2003, a test became available to detect HPV in the office setting, and in 2006 a vaccine was developed.

Most women who are infected with HPV do not know it, because most of the time there will be no symptoms. Most women do not develop serious problems from an HPV infection, and the vast majority of the time a woman’s immune system will clear the virus. However, HPV infections may lead to warts in the genital or oral areas (throat), precancerous and cancerous changes in the cervix, vulva and vagina, and head and neck (tongue, tonsils and throat). There is no proven effective treatment for the virus itself, but there are treatments for the diseases that HPV can cause. AHCC supplementation can also be considered. Eat a healthy diet rich in antioxidant nutrients with a variety of fruits and vegetables.

In summary, HPV usually goes away on its own, without causing major health problems. However, infection can lead to precancerous and cancerous changes of the genital, anal and head and neck areas.

Here are ten facts you need to know about HPV:

  1. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US.  75-80% of Americans will be infected with HPV during their lifetime.  Nearly half of women aged 20-24 will test positive for HPV.

  2. There are over 100 subtypes of HPV.  Some of these types cause genital warts, some cause precancerous and cancerous changes in the cervix, but most have no health effects whatsoever.

  3. We make the diagnosis of genital warts by visualizing warts on the skin of the vulva.  These are raised bumps with an irregular surface.  They are darker than the surrounding skin and may be slightly itchy but are not painful.

  4. HPV that causes precancerous changes in the cervix (also called high-risk HPV) can be detected on a Pap.  There is no blood test for HPV.

  5. There is no way for a man to know if he is a carrier of HPV, unless he has the subtype that causes genital warts.  He cannot go to his doctor to be “checked” for this infection. 

  6. If you are diagnosed with HPV, there is no way to know how long you have had it, or who you got it from, unless you have only had one sexual partner.  If HPV is found on your Pap, it is most likely from an exposure within the last two years, but that cannot be determined definitively.  You could have been exposed the very first time you had sex.

  7. Condoms do not completely prevent the spread of HPV because the virus can pass through the skin that is not covered by the condom.

  8. HPV (other than the subtypes that cause genital warts) does not have any symptoms.  It does not cause pain, discharge, itching or odor.  The only way to know you have it is to find it on your Pap, or through genital warts.

  9. If you find out that you have HPV, most likely your current sexual partner has it too.  While HPV can cause penile and anal cancer in men, these cancers are extremely rare (only about 2000 cases per year in the US) and the vast majority of men with HPV are asymptomatic.

  10. There is no way to prevent the spread of HPV completely.  However, getting vaccinated, using condoms, and limiting the number of sexual partners can decrease your risk.