ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) INFECTION

1. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) INFECTION BY MEDICAL EXPRESS CLINIC

2. HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS HPV is one of the common STDs that are highly rampant now. The major reason why HPV is deemed dangerous is because it leads to other, more deadly health issues like cancer and genital warts. The best way to defeat HPV and other STDs is early detection and treatment. This is why you need to be familiar with all STDs and how to know when you might be infected. In this article, we will be bringing to you all the information you need to know about HPV and how to prevent it.

3. WHAT IS HPV? Human papillomavirus (HPV), is a viral disease that is spread through skin contact between a people. Because of the nature of the disease, it is mostly spread through sexual activity. There are more than 100 strains or varieties of HPV, and almost half of them affect specific areas of the body like the genitals, mouth and throat, making it easy to be spread through sexual contact with an infected person. Because of how easy it is to be contacted. It has been called the most common STD by the CDC (Centre for Disease Control and prevention). The fact that it is so common makes it possible for some sexually active people to get infected by it. There are some strains of HPV that do not cause any health issues, however, multiple types of HPV are responsible for the formation of genital warts and some types of cancer such as cervical cancer, anal cancer and throat cancer.

4. What are the causes of HPV? HPV is caused by a virus, and it is transmitted through skin-to- skin contact. The fact that it is transmitted through direct skin contact, means that you do not have to be fully involved in sexual penetration to get infected. There have been cases where people got infected with the HPV virus, and they did not know about it. This is actually a terrible situation because you are still contagious even if you are not showing symptoms. Additionally, one can have more than one type or strain of HPV. There have been cases where a baby was infected with HPV from the mother during delivery, but this is not very common. In situations like this, the child may develop a medical condition known as recurrent respiratory papillomavirus. This is a medical condition where warts attributed to HPV are developed inside the airways or throats.

5. SYMPTOMS OF HPV In most cases, there are no symptoms when a person is infected with HPV. Surprisingly, HPV infections often always go away and disappear on their own within two years of infection. However, even if the infection goes away on its own, the causative virus will still remain in the body, and the individual can still transmit the virus unknowingly. On the other hand, if the infection does not go away on its own or if it is not treated accordingly, it can escalate to more serious problems like some types of cancer such as throat, cervical or genital cancer, and genital warts and warts in the throat. Note that different strains of HPV are responsible for warts and cancer. So having genital warts does not mean you will also have cancer. The cancers that are caused by HPV do not always show symptoms until the cancer has developed further, and is in its later stages. You can prevent all of this through regular screenings. This way, the problem can be discovered earlier and chances of successful treatment increased.

6. HPV in Men In most cases, men who have been infected with the HPV virus did not experience symptoms. The most they experienced was warts on the genital region. On that note, you should see your doctor if you experience any bumps or lesions on your genital region that was not there before. There are certain strains of HPV that cause cancer of the throat, anal region or penis in men. However, men who receive anal sex and men who have a weakened immune system are at greater risk of developing cancers attributed to HPV. As stated earlier, the strains of HPV responsible for warts on the genital region are not the same as the strain of HPV responsible for certain types of cancer in men.

7. Testing for HPV The test for HPV in men is different from the test for women. The methods if testing for HPV is not the same as women, and it does not involve the same diagnosis. Testing for HPV in men HPV DNA test is only available and applicable in women. At the moment, it is not available for men. For men who are at an increased risk of having anal cancer through HPV, the mode of testing is anal pap test. For now, screening for other types of cancer in men is not recommended.

8. Testing for HPV in women It is advised that women should have their first pap smear test at the age of 21. As time goes on, they should continue seeing their doctors for regular pap tests. If this continues, HPV, cancer and other problems related to HPV can be spotted in time. Women between the ages of 21 and 29 should go for a pap test every 3 years, while women aged 30 – 65 should either do the same, or they can go for an HPV test every five years to screen for high risk types of HPV. Furthermore, they can also go for both tests simultaneously every five years, and this is known as co-testing. If your pap tests are abnormal, your doctor may recommend an HPV test as well, especially of you are below the age of 30. As earlier stated, there are 14 strains of HPV that are responsible for cancer. If, after an HPV test, results show that you have at least one of these strains, then you will have to be monitored closely by your doctor for any changes that can suggest cervical cancer. Also, you may have to pap test more frequently than before, and your doctor may even recommend a colposcopy. It can take years for cervical cancer to develop as a result of changes in the cervix, and with the fact that HPV vaccine can sometimes go away on its own, you may have to watch the situation closely instead of treating abnormal or precancerous cells.

9. Treatments for HPV There is no treatment at the moment for HPV. However, you will have to go for tests yearly to see if the infection is still there or if it has simply disappeared on its own. The consistent test will also check if there are any changes that will need close follow-up. However, some symptoms and effects like genital warts can be treated in different ways such as treatment with medications, freezing with liquid nitrogen or even burning them off electrical current. Unfortunately, treating the warts will not get rid of the virus will not get rid of the virus responsible for the infection itself, and there is a great chance that they may return. Precancerous cells on the other hand can be removed surgically in a short procedure. The cancers that develop as a result of HPV can be treated either by surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, or even a combination of different methods. Currently, there are no medications or procedures for the treatment of HPV, however, regular screening and monitoring will help identify as well as treat issues that can arise from it.

10. How can one get HPV? There is one major factor that makes one highly at risk of having HPV, and that is unprotected skin-to-skin contact. Besides that, other factors that puts one at risk of HPV is ØWeak immune system ØLarge number of sexual partners ØHaving an infected sexual partner ØUnprotected anal vaginal or oral sex If you happen to get infected with any of the high risk strains of HPV, there are certain factors that can make the infection develop further into cancer. These factors include the following ØChronic inflammation ØA weak immune system ØBeing infected with other types of STD like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and herpes ØAbuse of tobacco products ØProlonged use of oral contraceptives ØHaving many children

11. HPV and Pregnancy If you are infected with HPV, it will not affect your chances of getting pregnant in any way. On the other hand, if you are already pregnant, you may have to consider treatment before childbirth to avoid complications. For example, vaginal birth may be difficult because of the warts that may develop during pregnancy as a result of hormonal changes in pregnancy. In such cases, the vagina may be blocked due to warts, leading to childbirth through caesarean section. Although it is rare, the child may become infected by the mother during childbirth. If this happens, the child may have a serious condition known as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, where HPV –related growths develop in the child’s airways.

12. Preventing HPV The best way to prevent HPV and its related health issues is through the practice of safe sex and the use of condoms. Fortunately, with the introduction of the vaccine, it is a lot easier to prevent the infection in the first place. The HPV vaccine has been known to provide protection against 9 types of HPV that are associated with the development of genital warts and some types of cancer. The vaccine is recommended for children aged 11 and 12, however even adults up to the age of 26 can get vaccinated too in a series of two or three doses. If you feel that you may be infected already with the HPV vaccine, or you have had unprotected sexual activity, visit the nearest sexual health clinic to get tested for HPV.

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