The Many Faces of HPV
Imagine a virus that has over 250 types or strains, and you have the HPV virus! These 250 all have in common the element of a wart – an interruption in the growth of skin cells, where the cells cluster and grow out of control. But that is the only element that ties together all these strains. They are different in the ways in which they present themselves physically, the time in which it takes them to grow, and the seriousness of their consequences to human health. There is no cure for HPV virus regardless of strain; there is only help for the symptoms, and treatment for secondary diseases which result from HPV infection.
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Why Should I Worry About HPV?
Although about 50% of adults have some form of the HPV virus sometime in their lives, most never know it. There are over 250 strains of the virus, and most of these do not cause any health problems, or cause only short-term issues, and do away on their own within a few years.
But the strains of HPV that do cause long-term health issues can be serious, and you do need to be informed about these in order to best protect yourself from certain forms of cancers and even infertility.
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HPV: 4 Ways to Avoid Getting it
There are over 250 strains or types of HPV virus that have been identified to date. Of these, most are benign and harmless. Although they can’t be cured, the symptoms they produce can be treated successfully, and most of these virus strains clear themselves up within a few years. Still, anyone would want to avoid things like common warts that result from HPV infection.
A few other, less common strains of HPV hang around in the body for years, weakening the immune system and causing mutations in healthy cells that may lead to cancer. Because these types have no symptoms, it is important to think about ways to protect yourself against becoming infected with any type of HPV virus.
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HPV Virus: 6 Reasons You May be at Risk!
Several factors put you as an individual at greater risk of becoming infected with the HPV virus:
- Lack of education The less you know and understand about the HPV virus and the various ways in which it can be transmitted, the more at risk you are. It is most important to be aware that there are over 250 types (strains) of the virus, and although these strains are all from the same family (human papillomavirus) they do not all behave in the same fashion, nor do they cause the same symptoms or carry the same degree of risk. A little education helps you know the ways in which to protect yourself from all strains of the virus, and especially from those that are most dangerous.
The HPV Vaccine: Why Should You Get it?
In recent years, the medical community has developed vaccines that are helped to prevent HPV infection in some cases. As is true with any vaccine, these are not 100% effective, however they have been shown to be effective the majority of the time.
Specifically, there are currently two vaccines on the market for protection against HPV, and more are under development. There are over 250 different strains of HPV virus that have been identified to date; these vaccines protect against particular strains that are associated with certain conditions.
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How Can I Get an HPV Test?
Although the HPV virus is a very common one in the human population, we really have no specific test – such as a blood test – to detect it in the general population. For women who are at risk for cervical cancer, there is a test called the “digene HPV test” that is usually done at the same time as a pap smear. This test can detect the presence on the cervix of the strains of HPV virus that are thought to be most likely to cause cervical cancer. This test is used for women over 30 at risk, and for women under 30 who have already been shown with a pap test to have abnormal cervical cells that may be indicative of a problem.
It is currently believed that there are over 250 strains or types of the HPV virus, and symptoms vary greatly amongst these strains. So unless you have specific symptoms, there is really no way to know whether or not you carry the virus. That is why it is important to educate yourself about it and take care of your health accordingly.
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HPV Cure: What is it?
Once you have contracted the HPV virus, there is no known cure for it. In many cases, depending upon the strain by which you have been infected, the virus will run its course on its own and your body will be clear of it within a few years. But for some types of HPV, it gets a little more complicated, because they tend to hang around indefinitely weakening your immune system and/or causing you to be vulnerable to more serious disease. But while there is no treatment for the HPV virus itself, there are treatments for certain symptoms or conditions caused by the disease.
If you develop common warts, say on your hands or feet, t hey can often be treated very simply and successfully with over-the-counter medications for wart removal. Or you may wish to have your doctor remove them for you. Many people simply allow common warts to run their course and clear up by themselves. It is important to know that when common warts are cleared or go away, the virus may still be present in your body for some time. That is why warts keep coming back, and often require several treatments before you don’t see symptoms anymore.
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How Can HPV be Transmitted?
Over fifty percent of the population is likely walking around with some sort of HPV virus. Depending upon the strain, the virus can be transmitted from person to person in a number of ways.
The most benign strains, those which cause various forms of warts on hands, feet, elbows and knees, can be transmitted fairly easily. This can happen when someone with the warts on their hands uses a doorknob, and someone else comes along and uses it as well. Or, it can happen when someone with “plantar warts”- those on the bottom of the feet – is walking around in a locker room unwittingly leaving traces of the virus on the floor; others can pick up the virus on their own feet by walking in the same place.
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Can HPV be Fatal?
When first learning about HPV and its prevention, most people have questions about whether or not the virus can actually kill you. The answer is no, and yes.
HPV is thought to contribute to cancers such as cervical and vulvular cancers in women, and penile cancer in men. The human papillomavirus is sometimes fairly harmless, as with HPV types 1 and 2, which cause warts on your hands. Other types, however, can linger in your body for years and cause your immune system to be weakened, and even allow damage to cells; this damage can result in cancer.
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What Does it Look Like?
Most basically, the HPV virus is a wart-causing virus. If you have one of the common strains of HPV, you may notice warts on your hands, elbows, knees, or on the bottom of your feet. But there are over 250 strains of HPV, and some of the most serious of the strains show no visible signs or symptoms for years after the initial infection. This means that a person can be carrying the virus for years without ever knowing it.
During this time the virus can be slowly working on the body and leading to life-threatening situations, and it may be infecting any sexual partners. For example you might see evidence of genital warts; although there are treatments that can clear up the warts, treatments do not cure the HPV virus in your body. It was likely raging around for years before the first wart actually appeared.
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