- HPV stands for the human papillomavirus. As the name says, HPV is a type of virus. As mentioned above, it is also a sexually transmitted disease. More than 40 different types of HPV have been identified by medical researchers; some cause little to no symptoms in affected people, although that is not always the case.
- In the vast majority of people who contract HPV, the virus causes no harm. A healthy immune system will generally identify the virus and destroy it, although the process can take as long as two years, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). For around 10 percent of patients, HPV can cause two health consequences: genital warts and cervical cancer. The same types of HPV are not responsible for these two problems, however.
- While genital warts are a serious health problem requiring treatment, cervical cancer is a much more serious threat. Four thousand women die annually from cervical cancer in the United States. Unfortunately, symptoms are only noticeable after the disease has progressed into the advanced stages, so treatment options are limited. Medical researchers believe the virus causes abnormalities in the cervical cells, which gradually become cancerous. The exact mechanism of how this works is not completely understood.
- Although HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, intercourse is not needed for contracting the virus. Genital contact is the only requirement. Using condoms can help reduce the risk of contacting HPV from an infected partner, but they do not offer 100 percent protection. Also, there are usually no visible signs that someone is a carrier for HPV, and most infected people do not know they have been infected until they develop health complications from the virus, such as genital warts or cancer.
- The CDC is now recommending girls have the HPV vaccine before they become sexually active. The vaccine is administered in a series of three injections. Most health insurance providers will cover the costs of the vaccinations because of this recommendation. The vaccine can also be given to women who have been sexually active, although it may be less effective.
