The term HPVs is the acronym for human papillomaviruses, of which there is in excess of one hundred types that affect humans. Most people understand the HPV virus to cause genital warts and it follows that there is more than forty types of the HPV virus that cause genital warts. Although forms of HPV treatment exist, there is no definitive cure for the HPV virus.

Causes:

The human papillomavirus causes genital warts. More than one hundred types of HPVs are known to exist, with approximately forty of these posing potential infection of the genital area.

HPV-6 and HPV-11 are two particular types of the HPV virus that cause an estimated ninety per cent of genital warts. However, these two types of the HPV virus are deemed to be low risk, because their likelihood of causing cancer is comparatively low.

Other types of the HPV virus have been shown to cause precancerous changes to the cervix of women and cervical cancer. One of the high risk versions of the HPV virus (HPV-16) causes approximately fifty per cent of all cervical cancers.

Genital warts are markedly different from common warts. Common warts are caused by different types of HPV that infect the skin.

Symptoms:

Genital warts produce no pain but are likely to present frustration because of where they are located, their size and possibly, the itchiness they can cause. It is quite common for both men and women with genital warts to speak of genital warts as painless bumps that are itchy and produce discharge.

Typically, the size of warts may range from less than one millimetre to several square centimetres in the event that warts join together. It is also common for genital warts to be present in more than one area.

How are genital warts transmitted?

The primary way in which the HPV infection is transmitted is via sexual activity. Like some other sexually transmitted infections, the risk of infection rises with the greater the number of sexual partners an individual has.

During sexual activity, abrasions in the genital area that are microscopic in size allow particles with the HPV virus to penetrate the skin and mucus. As soon as cells are infected with HPV, it is possible that there may be no evidence of infection for months or even years. Some people who are infected with the HPV virus are asymptomatic, meaning that they never show any symptoms of the virus.

However, approximately two thirds of people who engage in sexual activity with a person who is infected with HPV develops genital warts within a three month period.

HPV and links to other diseases:

For most people, the number of different HPVs comes as a surprise. Those that cause genital warts infect the anogenital tract (the genital tract and anus) of both men and women. There is a known link between cervical cancer and genital warts and, a subgroup of the HPVs that infect the genital tract and anus, can lead to precancerous changes in cells of the cervix and thereby cause cervical cancer.

The types of HPV that cause cancer of the cervix have also been linked to penile and anal cancers in men and some types of head and neck cancers in both women and men.

HPV is the acronym used for the Human papillomaviruses, of which there are more than one hundred types that affect humans. Many of us have heard of HPV (most readily thinking of it as genital warts) and are similarly familiar with the term HPV virus. Unfortunately, in relation to HPV, this is about where the knowledge of many ends.

Many people significantly underestimate the prevalence of HPV in society. Scarier still, most people fail to realise just how easily it can be spread – often without signs or symptoms. While some forms of HPV treatment do exist, there is no definitive and complete cure.

What don’t people know?

It goes without saying that a majority of people are surprised to learn that HPV is now recognised as the most common sexually transmitted infection in many parts of the western world. It is also concerning to learn that an estimated seventy five per cent of people of reproductive age have been infected with a sexually transmitted form of HPV at some time in their life. We need to take note that this staggering statistic relates to people that have been infected rather than those who have merely come into contact with HPV.

Each year in the US, it is understood that more than six million people become infected with HPV and that half of the total number of people infected each year are between the ages of fifteen and twenty five years.

Why is HPV so common?

Essentially, HPV infection is incredibly common but what people really need to understand is that an infected person may never develop any symptoms, including warts and cancers. Astoundingly to most of us, most people infected with HPV display no lesions or any other symptoms. The only way that HPV infection can then be determined is through testing to identify whether the DNA of the virus is present.

The HPV virus is more common than many people think and, it tends not to be one of the STIs that receives most public attention and efforts to raise awareness. It is also important for people to understand that there is no certainty as to whether the body’s immune system is able to eradicate the HPV virus altogether.

What about testing?

Quizzically, people have been known to test positive for an HPV infection only to have subsequent tests over months and years generate a negative result. Then, these same people have later been surprised by a positive result. It is unknown whether the viral infection is able to lay dormant for a period of time or whether a person becomes re-infected with the virus.

The HPV virus is such that people who have the virus but do not show any symptoms (asymptomatic) can still spread the virus through sexual contact.

HPV and cervical cancer

Some people are also aware of the link between the HPV virus and cervical cancer. While pap smears do not essentially screen for genital warts, it has been found that screening for and treatment of early changes to the cervix (before they become cancerous) has significantly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer. This is true for countries in the western world, but not so for women in developing countries where there is no medical infrastructure or financial backing to implement a screening system. In these countries, the incidence of cervical cancer resulting from HPV infection is significantly higher than rates in developed countries.

It is estimated that approximately 500,000 women across the world die from cervical cancer each year and, in some countries, it is the most common cancer related to female mortality.

The HPV virus and infection is a serious issue and one that many people fail to recognise as so significant. The HPV virus is common and this is largely because a person infected may never show any symptoms, but is still able to transmit the virus to sexual partners.

There are well over a hundred types of HPV (human papilloma viruses) which cause warts – a viral skin disease that can, in some cases, be a sexually transmitted infection. Types 6 and 11 cause gential warts, while 1 and 3 cause the common wart. While HPV treatment is available and tends to be effective in wart removal, there’s no cure for HPV and your immune system will tend to clear it away by itself. Here’s a quick look at the six most common types of warts.

Flat Warts

A flat wart can spread in numerous clusters on the face and body but tend to remain small in size – around the size of a pinhead. They are common in children on the face and can itch or hurt. Flat warts generally are similar to the rest of the skin in colour. They can be passed from one person to another by skin contact, by sharing towels and other items that come into contact with the skin, or to other areas of your body by shaving or scratch. They are usually harmless and go away on their own in time.

Common Warts

Common warts are raised on the skin and tend to be tough to the touch. They are larger than flat warts but are also skin coloured, and like other warts, tend to be harmless, though treatment is advised for those who feel self-conscious about these growths that can occur on the hand or other parts of the body.

Plantar Warts

These small lesions grow on the plantar surfaces on your body – the soles of the feet. Usually they have a skin-coloured or light brown appearance with a single or a few small black dots at the centre. The dots are clotted blood vessels. Plantar warts tend to spread on moist surfaces such as swimming pools and gyms where people walk bare footed. If you have been in contact with the HPV virus that causes plantar warts, then you tend to build up immunity over time – more children than adults have plantar warts. Because they can be mildly painful, people often opt for removal, either through home administered treatment like salicylic acid, or treatment by doctors such as cryosurgery (cold burning) and surgical excision.

Mosaic Warts

Mosaic Warts are clusters of plantar warts on the hands and feet that grow in mosaic clusters that can be difficult to remove. As they represent a serious spread of the virus, mosaic warts will required persistent application of salicylic acid products or more serious treatment by your doctor for removal.

Filiform Warts

These thread-shaped warts are found on the lips, neck, and the eyelids. They tend to be painless but can itch or bleed when severe. Advice should be obtained before self-administered treatment since any substances you use can come into contact with the eyes or cause scarring on your face.

Genital Warts

These are sexually transmitted warts that can occur in both men and women. Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. The wart grows in a bloom-like cluster on and around the genital area, which can cause embarrassment for infected people in intimate situations. They can be flesh-coloured or grey. Condoms will not provide absolute protection as this wart can be spread by skin-to-skin contact.

These two conditions are very often confused with each other, but genital warts – which are caused by the HPV virus – are actually very different to genital herpes. Here we look at the major differences, including symptoms, effects on human health and how each are treated.

What Are They?

Genital warts is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It’s commonly spread by skin contact during sexual intercourse. There are well over a hundred types of HPV and types 6 and 11 are the most common causes of genital wart cases. Depending on age and demographic, genital warts has been observed at anywhere between 1 – 45% of the sexually active population, with the youngest groups most prone to the infection. HPV is one of the most commonly STIs around the world.

There are two major types of herpes – oral (cold sores) and genital. Genital herpes is caused by HSV2 (Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2). They are commonly transmitted by contact with a lesion or the bodily fluid of an infected person, and less commonly through contact with an infected person’s skin. Herpes on the genitals appear like cold sores – raised, inflamed bumps on the surface of the genitals. The blister can be filled with fluid that then forms a scab. Usually it will then heal itself.

What Are Their Symptoms?

Genital warts lead to cauliflower-like growths on and around the sexual organs and the anus. For several weeks or months after exposure, some people may experience an itching or burning sensation. Small bumps or spots may appear that develop into bumpy warts. These warts may then spread into bloom clusters. Sometimes individuals can be infected for months, years, or even decades without symptoms.

Genital herpes look like cold sores on the skin. These sores will ulcerate before healing, and some level of inflammation, itching, and redness will occur. Sometimes the infected person will feel burning and tingling sensation in the area.

How Can I Tell if I have Herpes or Warts?

You can self-diagnose but the best way to be sure is to visit your doctor for a formal diagnosis. For herpes, if you have no symptoms, doctors can take a blood test, viral culture, or antigen test, or a combination of these. For warts, the doctor may use a pap smear or swab test to see if you have the virus.

How Can They Be Treated?

Once a person has been infected with HPV or HSV2, the virus will remain in the body, and go through periods of dormancy and activity until your immune system clears it.

HPV treatment (for genital warts) involves topical creams, cryosurgery (cold burning removal), and LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure, which removes the wart by hot burning). Cryosurgery and LEEP must be performed by doctors. Using creams at home can be a safe and easy way to treat HPV.

There is no known cure for HSV2 but there are various treatment options you can discuss with your doctor such as antiviral therapy.

There is a vaccine available for HPV that is best administered before you become sexually active. The vaccine is fairly widely used and has been proven to be effective against some HPVs that are linked to cervical cancer, warts and other high-risk types of HPV. Even when vaccinated, you should obtain regular pap smears and practice safe sex.

There is often confusion about the link between HPV and Cervical cancer. While the HPV Virus can be harmless in many instances, there are other types of HPV which can potentially cause cervical cancer. Here, we’ve explained exactly how the HPV Virus is linked to Cervical cancer. An important topic, all women should know about.

HPV is one of the most common types of diseases and is highly contagious. It is estimated that 70% of people are infected with the HPV virus. Because it can be contracted by skin to skin contact, it is transferred easily.

Genital warts are one of the most well known types of HPV Viruses however not much is known about it, unlike other sexually transmitted infections.

The signs

Genital warts can be visible but they can also be internal located on the cervix, anus or inside the vagina. Because of this, the person who is infected may not even know they are infected. Even if they are external, they may be painless and flesh coloured so they may not be attended to. If ever experiencing unexpected pain or bleeding, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Diagnosis of HPV

For some women, genital warts may be identified during a pap smear or gynecological examination. External warts are different to internal warts and may simply be treated using a cream form of HPV Treatment . Pap smears are conducted not to check for genital warts or other sexually transmitted diseases but rather to detect any abnormalities in the cervix.

If internal genital warts are found, it does not necessarily mean that the particular individual has cancer or will get cancer. However women with this type of HPV Virus need to be diligent with their pap smears and check ups as recommended by their doctor. Possibly the doctor will order a follow up screening to monitor the person closely and identify any further changes if a particular strain of HPV is detected.

An examination may show cervical dysplasia which once again doesn’t mean invasive cervical cancer but can indicate ‘carcinoma in situ’ (CIS) and cancer of the cervix. CIS is said to be 95% treatable and curable. There is no answer as to why in some cases it progresses to invasive cervical cancer. CIS is found commonly in young women aged 25-34. Progression to invasive cervical cancer occurs mostly in older women over 50 years of age.

Early detection

If cervical cancer is detected early, there is more chance of curing it. It is estimated however that one third of women fail to have regular pap smears making approximately 90% of deaths from cervical cancer possibly preventable if the cancer was detected earlier.

Although there are clear links between cervical cancer and the HPV Virus with some types of HPV leading to cervical cancer, regular check ups and pap smears really are vital to every woman’s overall health and well being.

Knowing the link between HPV and Cervical cancer is important for all women so that they are well aware of the importance of pap smears and the early detection of some strains of HPV. I hope you’ve found this information useful and helpful in making decisions about your health in the future.

There are many different types of the HPV Virus , some that don’t have symptoms at all. Here, we’ve listed some of the most important facts to know about HPV, including symptoms, the different types, how it can be treated and how to give yourself the best chances of not contracting HPV or at least ensuring early detection.

• What is HPV?- HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus and is most commonly known for causing warts. There is almost 200 known types of HPV and most of these cause no symptoms which is why some women don’t always know they have the type of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer. Hence the importance of having regular doctors check ups and pap smears at regular intervals.
• How is the HPV virus transmitted?- Certain types of the HPV Virus (approximately 30-40 types) are transmitted through sexual activity and can cause genital warts. Other types of HPV transmitted in this way can transfer other types of HPV which can cause cervical cancer.

Not all HPV Virus’s are transmitted in this way. There are other types of HPV Viruses that infect the mucous membranes and the skin which can cause warts and are not transmitted through sexual intercourse but can be contracted by simple skin on skin contact or even in a public swimming pools or showers.

• How to identify a HPV Infection- There are a few obvious signs for some of the types of HPV Viruses, however a doctor should always be consulted before seeking treatment. There are three most commonly seen types of HPV. Here is how to identify each one:

Genital warts- These warts appear usually in clusters and can be in one specific area or spread over a large part of the genitals. They are highly contagious and can only be transferred through skin to skin contact. To prevent transference, condoms should be worn during intercourse until a doctor has been consulted.

Hand warts-These are very common and are often seen in children. They often have a cauliflower appearance and are benign and are not dangerous, having no chance of becoming cancerous or causing other health problems.

Plantar warts- These are common on the toes and soles of the feet. These are also harmless however they can cause pain while walking and are highly contagious. They can often be contracted in public swimming pools and showers.

• How can HPV Infections be treated? Depending on the type of HPV Virus one has, there are a number of treatments. For some of the common strains of the virus that cause symptoms of visible external warts, a topical HPV treatment such as Podolox can be used. It is however important to see a physician to get a correct diagnosis as different types of HPV may require different treatments.

It is good to have some basic knowledge about the symptoms, strains and treatments for HPV. I hope we’ve given you some insight and general knowledge about HPV that is both helpful and useful.

Whether you are young or old, male or female, the HPV virus can affect your life in many ways. Having a handle on the basic facts will help you stay healthy and protect yourself. HPV has many strains, each behaving differently, some more serious than others to your health.

1. Most commonly, HPV – the human papillomavirus – causes common warts. Many people, at some time in their lifetime, will suffer from this usually harmless, but sometimes embarrassing skin condition. These warts appear on the hands and feet, generally. The strain of HPV that causes common warts can be spread fairly easily, from shared surfaces in public showers and restrooms. It is wise to take precautions such as wearing sandals in a public shower to avoid contact with the shared floor surfaces. Should you contract a case of common warts, however, your doctor can help you get rid of the infection.
   
   More serious are the strains of HPV that cause genital warts or other conditions. These are referred to collectively as “Genital HPV” infections. It is believed that currently, about 20 million people in the United States alone carries at least one strain of genital HPV, most without knowing that they are a carrier. These strains, while being silent for years in the human body, can affect you in these ways:
2. You may develop genital warts from the HPV virus. Although many people do not develop surface warts on the genital area, or never notice it, other people do have embarrassing and uncomfortable lesions. Although there are treatments for these, there is not a cure – this means that these lesions can be very persistent, seeming to go away with medication only to come back again and again.
3. Because many people are carriers of HPV without knowing it, they can unknowingly pass the HPV infection on to others. In women, contracting HPV can eventually lead to cervical cancer. About 70% of cervical cancers are believed to begin with HPV infection – usually many years earlier! It is important for women to be screened regularly for cervical cancer, during the annual exam with a PAP test. The earlier cervical cancers are caught, the better chance of successful treatment and cure. Two vaccines currently exist on the market for women, which have been shown to prevent several strains of HPV infection that lead to cervical cancer. If you are sexually active, or if you are a parent or guardian of a teen who is sexually active, you may wish to ask your doctor about these vaccines.
4. If you are a male, you are not immune to the affects of HPV infection! First, you can be a carrier and infect any partner with whom you come into sexual contact. Secondly, it is thought that some forms of penile cancer are related to HPV infection. If you are a gay male, you may also be susceptible to anal cancers related to HPV.
5. Anyone who engages in oral sexual contact can also acquire HPV. This can in rare instances lead to cancers of the throat, neck, and head. It can also lead to a respiratory infection that can become a very serious condition.

Again, there is no cure for HPV. But you can keep yourself safe by practicing safe sex, being educated with current information on the disease, and having regularly health checkups.

Genital human papilloma virus (or HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Statistics indicate that up to 90% of males and females come into contact with HPV at some point in their life if they have been sexually active. And in many of these cases, they unwittingly pass it on to their partner.

But the good news is that the vast majority of the 250 recognised strains of HPV cause no symptoms, signs or illness and our immune system works to destroy the infection with no side effects. However, medical researchers have isolated 15 strains of the virus that can lead to serious health risks.

When it comes to the consequences of HPV, men are relatively fortunate because the most serious strains of HPV can lead to cervical cancer and death in women. Every year around 3000 to 4000 women die from cervical cancer, and in 70% of these cases, the cancer is directly related to HPV.

What are the Dangers of HPV?

In the vast majority of cases, men can become infected with HPV and show no signs or symptoms. However, simply showing no symptoms of infection doesn’t mean that you aren’t carrying one of the strains of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer in a woman. You just don’t know it.

So it pays to have regular check-ups with your medical practitioner every time you begin a new relationship. This may sound over-the-top and unnecessary, but how would you feel if you learned that you inadvertently passed on one of the deadly strains of HPV to your partner that resulted in cervical cancer?

Fortunately, genital HPV won’t kill you if you are male, but it can be very embarrassing, painful and unsightly if you contract one of the strains of HPV that results in genital warts.

Remember, every time you have sex with a new partner, you are having sex with every partner she has ever had and every partner they have ever had… scary, huh?

What are the Symptoms of HPV?

If you have detected any abnormalities including scaly or itchy patches or growths in your genital area, you need to get checked out immediately. HPV testing for men is a relatively simple procedure.

Genital warts tend to appear in clusters, like miniature cauliflowers. They can be quite small in size or spread across a wide area from your genitals through to your anus. The area surrounding the warts is often painful and the warts are often itchy.

If you are diagnosed with genital warts, your physician can recommend topical HPV treatments that relieve the symptoms until the infection has passed.

How to Prevent HPV Infections

You may have the genital warts virus and simply not know it. Even if you’ve never had an outbreak of genital warts, but particularly if you have, the strain of HPV that results in genital warts or a number of other serious conditions, including cancer, may be dormant in your system.

So always practicing safe sex is mandatory if you want to protect yourself from HPV and also so you can prevent spreading the infection to your partner. The risk that you could unwittingly pass the strains of HPV that lead to cervical cancer in women cannot be stressed enough.

To avoid coming into contact with HPV, men need to wear a latex condom when having sex. Not only does a condom help protect you from unwanted pregnancy, it also prevents you from catching HPV, as well as preventing you from passing it on. And HPV is only one of a number of sexually transmitted diseases that can infect you. None of them are pretty and all of them will have a dramatic impact on the state of your sexual health with all your future partners, for as long as you continue to be sexually active – and for most of us that means the rest of our lives.

You’ve probably contracted HPV at some point in your life. In fact, there’s a good chance you’ve contracted genital HPV, too.

Shocked? Don’t be. More than half of all adults have had “common warts” at one point or other, warts that affect the hands, feet, elbows or knees. That’s why they call them common warts. They’re uncomfortable, but they’re really no big deal.

As for genital HPV, believe it or not, there are actually several types of HPV that affect the genitals, but which do not lead to warts, do not lead to cervical cancer, and are basically harmless in every way, shape and form.

To list the HPV statistics in different parts of the world …

Australia

Around four percent of men and women in Australia have been diagnosed with genital warts. Common warts are pretty much just a common the world over, with more than half of adults having had hand warts or plantar warts at one time or another. This amounts to somewhere around seventy thousand cases.

New Zealand

New Zealand has an estimated 14,683 active HPV cases at present.

United States

In the US, genital HPV is actually quite common, with somewhere around 5.5 million new genital HPV infections occurring every year. Most of these are harmless, though genital warts account for about one third of all new STD infections each year, with around 20 million men and women supposed to have some form of genital HPV at any given time.

UK

In the UK, there are an estimated 221,583 active genital HPV cases at any given time.

China

China is, by population, the largest country in the world, and has nearly five million active HPV cases at a given time.

In Developing Countries

In developing, or third world countries, there have been major efforts to combat HPV related cervical cancer, but nonetheless, around a quarter million women die of the disease every year, with the majority of these deaths occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.

It’s hard to ascertain much from these statistics except for the simple fact that HPV spreads everywhere. Whether you have a modernized hospital system or not, HPV will find a way in.

It is notable that developed countries tend to see fewer deaths as a result of HPV related cervical cancer than do developing countries. Efforts have been made to combat these trends and educate those in developing countries on safe sex practices and general health considerations, but it has been an uphill battle met with political and ideological obstacles.

If you’d like to help, there are a few things you can do. We can’t all join the Red Cross and move to Sierra Leone, but each and every one of us can write angry letters. Tell the Pope not to butt in when it comes to distributing condoms in Africa, tell your political that we need to put more effort towards fighting disease in third world countries.

And of course, you need to practice safe sex at home, as well.

Anogenital warts are a commonly misunderstood disease. Caused by Human papilloma virus types 6, 11, 42, 43, 44 and 55, among others, anogenital warts, sometimes simply called genital warts, are a type of genital HPV, but are only one small subsection of genital HPV.

Other types of genital HPV may lead to genital cancers, such as cervical cancer, while others may lead to no symptoms whatsoever. Luckily, the types that lead to anogenital warts do not lead to cancer.

That said, the presence of anogenital warts should not be taken as a sign that you do not have an HPV type that can lead to cancer. Multiple HPV types can affect an individual at once, and it is entirely possible to have both anogenital warts and developing cervical cancer from two or more different strains of genital HPV.

Anogenital warts tend to spread only through direct sexual contact. It is possible for anogenital warts to spread to the mouth, though it is somewhat rare.

One common misconception is that HPV is only contagious when an infection is active. This isn’t the case. In fact, HPV can spread for even months after a wart infection clears up. For this reason, we strongly urge that you consult your physician before considering yourself ready to have sex again, and we insist that you use a latex condom during sex.

If you do contract genital warts, they can sometimes be easily identified from a “layman’s” perspective on sight, but other times may only become visible through some medical testing. If you do suspect that you have contracted anogenital warts, make sure to consult your doctor before taking action, lest you wind up treating a pimple or an ingrown hair with an over the counter genital wart remover.

Do not use home remedies on anogenital warts. There are a number of home remedies that work like a charm on common warts on the hands and feet, but your hands and feet are not as sensitive as your genitals. There are some over the counter and prescription treatments for anogenital warts that tend to be highly effective, so there’s no reason to try and treat anogenital warts with slices of garlic, dabs of vinegar, or something you found in a home pedicure kit.

Again, anogenital warts are uncomfortable, but do not lead to cancer. That said, women should make absolutely certain to have their regular pap smear conducted, as this is the only way to identify the types of HPV which show no visible symptoms, but which can lead to cervical cancer. And as always, safe sex should be practiced, in order to prevent contracting or spreading genital HPV.

Because anogenital HPV strains can lie dormant in one’s body for years without showing any visible symptoms, it is possible to see genital warts occur even a decade or longer after contracting the disease. It is also possible to contract anogenital wart causing HPV without ever seeing any visible symptoms. This is worth making a bit more public, as dormant HPV suddenly showing symptoms years after infection has led to a lot of distrust in marriages. Genital warts suddenly appearing are not always a sign of infidelity.

If you do have anogenital warts, just make sure to go through the proper steps. Talk to your doctor, and treat the warts medically.