All About HPV

The HPV virus lives in mucous membranes, such as those in the genital area, or on the skin. If genital warts show up, it's a sign of HPV infection. 

These warts...

• Take on many different appearances. They can be raised, flat, pink, or flesh-colored.

• Can even be shaped like cauliflower. Sometimes there is a single wart; other times multiple warts appear. 

• Can be small or large.

• Are usually not painful, but they may cause mild bleeding and/or itching. 

Treatments 

The best way of preventing HPV infection and genital warts is to abstain from sex or limit sexual contact to one uninfected person.

If that is not an option, condoms may provide some protection. However, condoms are not 100% effective, because they do not cover the entire penis or surrounding areas.

There are two vaccines approved to protect against HPV. Gardasil protects against infection from four strains of the HPV virus. Two of these strains, HPV-16 and HPV-18, account for about 70% of cervical cancers. The other two strains covered by the vaccine, HPV- 6 and HPV-11, account for about 90% of genital warts. The vaccine is approved for 9- to 26-year-old females and males.

Cervarix also protects against HPV-16 and HPV-18, and offers modest protection against genital warts.

Unfortunately, no treatment can kill the HPV virus that causes the genital warts. Your doctor can remove the warts with laser therapy or by freezing or applying chemicals. Some prescription treatments are available for at home use. Surgery may be necessary for genital warts that are big or hard to treat. However, recurrence remains a problem. You may need to return to your doctor for more treatment later.

To alleviate any further pain, those with HPV/genital warts should keep the infected area as dry as possible. In addition, those affected with this STD should wear all-cotton underwear. Man-made fabrics can agitate the affected area and trap moisture.

 If you are having sex or have had sex in the past, think you might have genital warts, or if you have had a partner who might have genital warts, seek help from your doctor or gynecologist.

A doctor will do an examination, make a diagnosis, and then provide treatment, if necessary. A number of different treatments might be used depending on where the warts are located, how big they are, and how many there are. The doctor might put special medications on the warts, or remove them with treatments like laser therapy or chemical "freezing," which is mentioned above. 

 Every year in the U.S., HPV is believed to cause an estimated 

• 2,100 vulvar cancers,
• 500 vaginal cancers,
• 600 penile cancers,
• 2,800 anal cancers in women, and1,500 anal cancers in men.
  

About 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV.

Approximately 360,000 people in the U.S. get genital warts each year.

There are more than 100 types of HPV.

Approximately 14 million people become newly infected each year.

HPV is so common that almost all sexually-active men and women will contract at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives.