Human papillomavirus or HPV is a common viral infection. More than 85% of South African women have been exposed to this virus at some point in their life.
In many cases, HPV is spread through sex and is considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD). However, HPV can also be spread through other means.
HPV can’t be cured, but symptoms can be treated. Additionally, vaccines can reduce your risk of contracting HPV.
Most people with HPV infections don’t have symptoms.
In some cases, HPV causes genital warts, which can lead to symptoms like:
HPV can also lead to warts on other parts of the body. Warts may be raised bumps with a rough texture, hard lumps, or slightly raised spots with a smooth surface.
More serious health problems called complications can develop from HPV. This virus can increase your chances of developing cancer in the lower part of the uterus (cervix), vagina, vulva, penis, anus, or back part of your mouth (oropharynx).
Some types of HPV are spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Other HPV strains are spread by coming into contact with the skin of someone who is infected. You can also contract HPV if your skin comes into contact with surfaces that contain the virus, such as a swimming pool.
You may be more likely to contract HPV if you have:
Age also plays a role. Teens and young adults have the greatest risk of getting genital warts, while rough warts on the hands or fingers, called common warts, appear more often in children.
There aren’t any tests that can tell you whether or not you have HPV. However, some tests can identify problems caused by HPV.
Your doctor can diagnose genital warts through a physical exam. They may also take a small sample and study cells under a microscope.
A screening test called a Pap test or Pap smear can diagnose precancerous changes in the cervix caused by HPV. These changes may eventually turn into cervical cancer if they are left untreated.
An anal Pap test can also look for similar precancerous spots in the anus in people at higher risk of anal cancer, including those with HIV or men who have sex with men.
There aren’t currently any treatments that can eliminate HPV. However, your immune system will often eliminate HPV within a couple of years.
Some therapies can treat or prevent problems caused by HPV such as cancer. If you have precancerous spots in the cervix, you can have them removed with a procedure called a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Your doctor can also remove abnormal spots in other parts of your body, including the vagina, vulva, penis, or anus, with surgery, lasers, or extreme cold temperatures (cryotherapy).
Using a condom helps protect you from HPV. If you already have this virus, condoms help prevent you from spreading infections to other people. It is important to use condoms every time you have sex, even if you already know you have had HPV in the past — you can get HPV again after previously having it, or you could become infected with a new strain of the virus.
Public health experts recommend vaccination against HPV for all young girls and boys before they become sexually active. Vaccines can help prevent you from becoming infected with HPV and reduce your risk of cancers caused by HPV.