HPV Key Points.
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that commonly infects skin and mucosal tissues. There are more than 100 types of HPV, about 30 of which are associated with reproductive tract diseases and are transmitted mainly through sexual contact. Among them, “low-risk” HPV can cause genital warts; while “high-risk” HPV can cause cervical cancer.
It is estimated that 80% of women will be infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime.
Fortunately, in most cases, the body can rely on its own immune system to clear the virus. Only persistent infection can cause abnormal cytological changes. The HPV vaccine is now available to prevent the most common types of reproductive tract HPV infections. However, vaccine protection is best achieved only if the vaccine is administered to girls or young women before they have had sexual intercourse. In addition, the existing HPV vaccine has limited protection against only certain types, not against all high-risk HPV types that can cause cervical cancer.
What are the most common misconceptions women have about HPV?
Many women do not realize that almost everyone is infected with HPV, and patients with HPV often have questions such as, “When did I get this virus?” , “Does my partner need to be tested?” and “How do I get rid of the virus?” . In fact, they don’t have to be so anxious because most HPV infections go away on their own, just like a cold will go away on its own.
There is no treatment for the HPV virus itself, but if you know you have the virus, you can keep your doctor informed about the condition of your cervix by having further observation while you are living with the virus. If abnormal cell changes occur, timely treatment can be given to prevent the cell changes from progressing to cancer.
Please note: Men can also be infected with HPV, but the chances of abnormal cell changes are very small. Even if HPV persists, cancer is generally rare due to the peculiarities of male physiology. Whether cells become abnormal after HPV infection depends on whether the virus goes away or persists, as well as a number of other factors that are not well understood at this time.
If you are infected with HPV and your doctor tells you that you need further testing, what is most important?
The first thing is to know that you are not alone and that at least your doctor knows your condition and can help with further thorough examination of the cervix. When the HPV test is positive, it is very important to know how to follow up and manage further.
What are the symptoms of HPV infection?
Usually the HPV virus does not cause any symptoms. Even if the virus causes cytologic changes, they are usually ignored (not a cause for concern). When the HPV virus does cause noticeable changes, the most common are genital warts C which usually appear around the anus, penis, scrotum (testicles), groin or thighs. These warts may take various forms, from small, scaly patches to distinct bumps. Condyloma acuminatum is not a serious disease and is curable, but it can occur again when the body’s immune system is so weakened that it cannot completely suppress the HPV virus. In rare cases, high-risk HPV can cause certain cancers such as penile or anal cancer (most often seen in gay, bisexual or HIV-positive men).
Are you embarrassed or ashamed to be infected with HPV, a sexually transmitted virus?
HPV is an epitheliophilic virus and infection with HPV is as common as catching a cold. Although it is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse, it can be transmitted through any intimate skin-to-skin contact. It is important to understand that any individual who has had sexual contact with another person can be infected with HPV. Anyone who has had sex, even if it is only with one person who has had other sexual partners, is at risk for HPV. This includes women who have had sex with someone of the same sex.
Many women have never heard of HPV, and many may know about cytology tests to detect abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. But they may not know that HPV is the cause of abnormal cervical cell changes.
Is there an HPV test for men?
There is no officially approved method for testing men for HPV. This is because there are not enough validated and reliable methods for taking skin cell samples from the male genital tract for HPV testing.
How are genital warts caused?
Low-risk HPV, like high-risk types, is transmitted through close contact with the genital tract, such as sexual intercourse. The term “low-risk” means that this type of HPV only causes warts, not the serious and life-threatening cervical cancer. This is why some women with warts have normal cytology and HPV test results. The abnormal cellular changes in the cytology results are caused by “high-risk” HPVC, or potentially cancer-causing HPV types, and the HPV test is only used to detect these specific high-risk viruses. It is important to note that warts can affect local immunity and create conditions for continued infection with high-risk HPV types, so it is important to know if you are infected with high-risk HPV types at the same time as you are actively treating your warts with HPV testing.
It is important to note that the occurrence of warts is “region specific”. This means that genital warts do not spread to other parts of the body, such as the hands and feet. Likewise, warts on the hands and feet do not spread to the genital area. However, it is possible that the hands can be a vehicle for the transmission of HPV from the genitals of one individual to the genitals of his or her partner.
Can genital warts affect pregnancy or the birth of a baby?
Most pregnant women who have or have had genital warts do not develop HPV-related complications during pregnancy or delivery. Changes in the body’s immune system during pregnancy may promote the growth of warts, and treatment may be delayed until after delivery to see if the warts will actively regress.
There are conflicting opinions about the mode of delivery for HPV-infected patients, and there are advantages and disadvantages to vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery. HPV can be transmitted vertically from mother to child causing intrauterine infection, but the use of cesarean delivery to prevent neonatal HPV infection is not significant. The cesarean section does not completely prevent vertical transmission of infection from mother to child.
Can HPV be transmitted in utero to the baby?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV can be transmitted vertically from mother to baby during labor, but this is very rare. In fact, the agency estimates the probability to be about 1.1 in more than 100,000 babies. In these rare cases, HPV infection appears in the infant’s respiratory tract, most commonly causing laryngeal papilloma. Early detection and treatment is the key.
If I have cervical precancerous lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia), does it affect my fertility?
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and the corresponding treatment will not affect fertility. However, if the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia requires surgical removal of the lesion, it may affect fertility, for example by increasing the risk of preterm delivery, caesarean section or low birth weight, especially if a large amount of cervical tissue is removed. If fertility is desired, possible complications should be discussed with a physician or other medical professional prior to treatment.
Should I stop having sex with my partner if she is infected with HPV?
If a partner is tested for HPV and found to be infected with HPV, there is no need to stop having sex. The virus is usually transmitted between sexual partners and it is likely that both partners are already infected with HPV by the time HPV is detected.
Note: Being infected with HPV does not mean that you or your partner is unfaithful. HPV can be silent for many years before it is detected. Your partner may have been carrying HPV for a long time, but there is no way to know for sure from whom she got it.
How can you protect yourself and your partner?
HPV infection is so common that it is difficult to avoid it completely. It is reasonable to expect that you will become infected with HPV at some point in your life. Keeping one sexual partner can be effective in preventing infection and the spread of the virus.
However, you can minimize your and your partner’s risk of contracting HPV by
Limiting the number of sexual partners and choosing healthy sexual practices
Use condoms. [Condoms protect against most sexually transmitted infections, including HPV. but do not completely protect against HPV because they do not cover all of the skin of the genital tract]
Avoid having sex with a partner who clearly has genital tract acromegaly
Encourage your wife or girlfriend to have regular cytology smear testing and HPV testing (over 30 years of age)
In addition, studies have confirmed that men who have been circumcised have a lower risk of penile cancer compared to men who have not been circumcised.