1.What is HPV?
HPV is called human papillomavirus, which is a very common virus in Chinese.
2.How do I get HPV?
It is a common sexually transmitted infection.
Direct skin-to-skin contact is the most effective way of transmission.
The virus is not transmitted through blood or body fluids (e.g. semen).
Perineal contact is necessary to acquire HPV, and sexual intercourse is not necessary.
3. How long does HPV endure in the body (incubation period)?
Cervical diseases associated with HPV include: cervical warts, cervical lesions and cervical cancer.
There are about 3 weeks from the time of HPV infection to the release of the virus. However, there may be weeks to months between HPV infection and the appearance of damage. There may be immune escape in the early stages of viral infection, so there is no inflammatory response.
Persistent HPV infection is of great importance for the progression of cervical cancer.
The incubation period of genital HPV infection is extremely variable. Generally, genital warts become apparent after 3 to 6 months of HPV infection, however, some studies have shown latency periods of several months or even decades.
The vast majority of HPV infections are transient, with most new infections resolving spontaneously within 1-2 years.
Only a minority of HPV infections will remain latent and reactivate after several years or decades.
Most genital tract HPV infections have no clinical symptoms.
4. How do I see high risk and low risk in HPV labs?
The most important taxonomic unit of HPV is type (type)
HPV types that are more clearly associated with cervical cancer are classified as high-risk HPV and suspected high-risk HPV
HPV associated with benign diseases such as condyloma acuminatum is classified as low-risk HPV, and it is generally believed that infection with this type of HPV does not induce cervical cancer
High-risk types (15): 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73, 82
Suspected high-risk types (3): 26, 53, 66
Low-risk types (12): 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70, 72, 81, candHPV 89
Top 3 subtypes of distribution: 16, 58, 52
Spectrum of diseases caused by high-risk HPV: cervical cancer and precancerous lesions (persistent high-risk HPV infection is the most important risk factor); vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancers; flat warts
Spectrum of diseases caused by low-risk HPV: external genital warts (usually located in the anal region and mucous membranes; appearance of exophytic lobular or cauliflower-like papular growth; multi-site, irregular shape and multiform; may cause bleeding, itching and local overflow; typical cases do not require biopsy to confirm the diagnosis) and abnormal cytology (mainly ASCUS, LSIL)
5.What should I do if I have HPV infection?
(1) For women over 30 years of age with positive HPV and negative cytology (normal TCT or showing inflammation).
HPV 16, 18, 33, 31, colposcopy is recommended.
Positive for other subtypes, review after 1 year.
(2) Combined cervical TCT and HPV testing is not needed in women younger than 30 years of age because
Younger women will have multiple recurrent cycles of HPV infection.
Such infections are often associated with only minor cytologic changes.
Women in this age group tend to clear the viral infection on their own and restore cytologic changes to normal.
Testing for transient HPV infections is not meaningful and can cause unnecessary anxiety for women .
Women over 18 years of age and under 30 years of age should have cervical TCT 2 to 5 years and do not need to be routinely tested for HPV.
However, in younger women, HPV testing is useful when cervical cytology results suggest ASC-US (atypical squamous cells without clear significance). An ASC-US result means that abnormal cervical cells are found, however, it is not clear if they are an alarm signal for cancer. HPV testing can determine if infection is present and if further testing is needed.
6.Treatment of HPV
Basically, it can be said responsibly that there is no oral drug that can deal with HPV, but the local use of interferon in the cervix may have some effect. Western countries have developed new types of weapons, namely therapeutic HPV vaccine and preventive HPV vaccine (mainly for HPV16 and HPV18). According to their official release, the effect is still good.
7. Prevention of HPV
(1) Strengthen exercise and healthy diet to improve the body’s immunity.
(2) Regular follow-up and annual cytological examination (TCT). Women who have sexual intercourse can start HPV-DNA examination after 30 years old.
(3) Use condoms. Although condoms do not prevent the risk of HPV infection, the risk of genital warts, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia of the cervix, and cervical invasive cancer is reduced.